• Why did the Fortescue share price leap 5% on Wednesday?

    Happy woman miner with her thumb up signalling Wyloo's commitment to back IGO's takeover of Western Areas nickelHappy woman miner with her thumb up signalling Wyloo's commitment to back IGO's takeover of Western Areas nickel

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price finished in the green today.

    The mining giant’s share price closed 5.23% higher on Wednesday at $17.90. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) also climbed 1.65% today.

    Let’s take a look at what happened to the Fortescue Metals share price today.

    Iron ore futures rise

    The company’s shares lifted amid a positive day for the materials sector.

    Indeed, Fortescue was not the only exploration company to rise today. The share price of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) increased 1.37% while Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) shares gained 2.18%.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also rose 2.5% today. ASX 200 lithium shares, in particular, lifted today amid concerns of a shortage of battery materials.

    Meantime, it was reported iron ore prices may be buoyed by lower production guidance from Brazilian iron ore giant Vale SA (NYSE: VALE), according to Bloomberg. This may support commodity prices for iron ore and present an opportunity for competitors, the publication noted.

    Iron ore futures in Singapore lifted by 2.8% while Dalian Commodity Exchange futures gained 1.5% in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported.

    Jeffries analysts predicted demand for iron ore will increase due to the impacts of China’s stimulus. The broker said in comments cited by Bloomberg:

    Based on our analysis, iron ore and coal should be the best of the major commodities in mining for the rest of this year.

    However, as my Foolish colleague James reported yesterday, Goldman Sachs analysts are predicting iron ore prices to lower in 2023 to US$100 per tonne. But, for 2022, Goldman has placed a US$120 per tonne price forecast on iron ore.

    Share price snapshot

    The Fortescue share price has lost nearly 29% in the past year, while it has shed nearly 7% year to date.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 index has lost nearly 7% in the past year.

    Fortescue has a market capitalisation of more than $55.1 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Why did the Fortescue share price leap 5% on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    3 Stocks for Runaway Inflation

    As the world suffers price shocks… and the cost of everything seems to be ticking higher…
    These 3 ASX stocks could be the answer to runaway inflation. Boasting key qualities companies need to not only survive but actively thrive when costs surge.
    Act fast – because in times of inflation, the worst thing you can do is… nothing.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • ‘Elevated prices’ give AGL share price a shot at 26% upside: JP Morgan

    A woman sits on a chair with laptop on her lap and a smile on her face with a graphic image of a climbing jagged arrow tangled around her feet and lifting them comfortably so they are raised against a backdrop of many lightbulbs with one large lightbulb showing a dollar sign.A woman sits on a chair with laptop on her lap and a smile on her face with a graphic image of a climbing jagged arrow tangled around her feet and lifting them comfortably so they are raised against a backdrop of many lightbulbs with one large lightbulb showing a dollar sign.

    The AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price closed 2.7% higher on Wednesday. The utilities share finished trade at $8.37 a share.

    Top broker JP Morgan says the company has the most to gain from increased wholesale electricity prices.

    According to a report in the Australian Financial Review (AFR), JP Morgan has upgraded its guidance on AGL Energy from neutral to overweight.

    It has also increased its 12-month share price target for AGL from $9.15 to $10.60.

    Why JP Morgan is bullish on the AGL share price

    Analyst Mark Busuttil said, “higher wholesale prices have a material impact on earnings and value”.

    JP Morgan projects average wholesale electricity prices of $208 per megawatt hour in 2022. This is a 93% upgrade. The broker also projects $179 per megawatt hour in 2023 (a 92% upgrade) and $116 per megawatt hour in 2024 (up 45%).

    Busuttil said the key risk is operational, with an increasing likelihood of unplanned outages at baseload plants.

    AGL has endured extended outages at its Loy Yang A coal power plant in Victoria.

    Net profits to grow exponentially

    JP Morgan now forecasts AGL Energy to earn a net profit of $239 million in FY22. It is tipping a net profit of $555 million in FY23 and $1.32 billion in FY24.

    The broker acknowledges that today’s commodity prices are not sustainable.

    However, “the challenges in addressing current constraints mean that we expect elevated prices for some time”.

    The AGL share price is up 36% in the year to date.

    The post ‘Elevated prices’ give AGL share price a shot at 26% upside: JP Morgan appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • The Life360 share price has rocketed 69% in a month. Is it too late to buy?

    a couple look dumbfounded with exaggerated looks of surpirse on their faces as te mman holds a phone in his hand.a couple look dumbfounded with exaggerated looks of surpirse on their faces as te mman holds a phone in his hand.

    The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price finished the session on Wednesday up 8.44% to $4.24.

    This means over the past month, the ASX technology share has increased in value by nearly 69%.

    Life360 is the company behind the Life360 app, which is the leading real-time location-sharing app used by families worldwide. At last count, it had more than 30 million active monthly users.

    Has this share price boost made it too late to buy Life360?

    As my Fool colleague James wrote this week, broker Bell Potter is positive on Life360.

    Bell Potter has a price target of $7.50 on Life360 shares. So, if we take this broker’s word as gospel, then nope, it’s not too late to buy the ASX tech share.

    While the company is generating material annual recurring revenue (ARR), it is not yet profitable.

    But Bell Potter likes Life360’s growth trajectory, strong balance sheet, and the expectation it will be cash flow positive from the fourth quarter of FY23.

    Until then, Life360 “has more than sufficient cash to fund its operations”.

    Bell Potter says:

    [The company] has the potential to leverage its large and growing user base to enter new markets and disrupt the legacy incumbents … insurance, item & pet tracking, senior monitoring, home security and/or identity theft.

    The broker added: “The company has also recently made two acquisitions – Jiobit and Tile – so that now it not only connects and protects people but also pets and things.”

    That’s Life360

    Taking into account the past month’s gains, the Life360 share price is down by more than 56% over the year to date.

    The post The Life360 share price has rocketed 69% in a month. Is it too late to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 Inc. right now?

    Before you consider Life360 Inc., you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 Inc. wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • The Accent share price has already surged 18% in FY23. What’s next?

    A young woman dressed in street clothes leaps happily in the air with the focus on her bright red boots that are front and centre for the camera.

    A young woman dressed in street clothes leaps happily in the air with the focus on her bright red boots that are front and centre for the camera.

    We are only 20 days into the 2023 financial year. But even so, the Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price has given investors a start to the year to remember.

    This ASX 200 footwear retailer and owner of the Athlete’s Foot, Platypus, and HYPEDC brands was going for $1.24 a share back on 30 June. But as it stands today, Accent has closed at $1.45 a share, up a healthy 3.57% this Wednesday.

    That means that the Accent share price has put on an extremely impressive 18% or so over just the past 20 days.

    But, zooming out, the picture is not quite as rosy. Accent has had a rocket of a run in recent weeks. But the company remains down a painful 40.82% year to date in 2022. It’s also down more than 46% over the past 12 months.

    So what might be next for the Accent share price? Will the recent run of good fortune keep going?

    What’s next for the Accent share price?

    Well, one ASX broker who reckons the good times might just keep on rolling for Accent shares is Bell Potter. As my Fool colleague James covered just last week, Bell Potter has recently retained a buy rating on Accent shares.

    That came with a 12-month share price target of $2.20. If that were to come to pass, it would mean a potential upside of almost 52% from the current pricing.

    Bell Potter likes Accent for its “dominant market share in the Australian footwear retailing industry and growth outlook in the youth focused sports apparel”.

    It is also expecting big things when it comes to the Accent dividend. It has already pencilled in a total of 5.8 cents per share in fully franked dividends from Accent for FY2022. But it reckons this will almost double to 10.7 cents per share by the end of FY2023.

    So that’s a fairly unambiguous endorsement of the Accent share price at today’s levels, and one that will no doubt be received with enthusiasm from investors. But we shall just have to wait and see if Bell Potter is on the money here.

    In the meantime, today’s closing Accent Group share price gave this ASX 200 retailer a market capitalisation of $785 million, with a dividend yield of 3.97%.

    The post The Accent share price has already surged 18% in FY23. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Own BHP shares? Here’s why the miner just partnered with one of the world’s biggest steelmakers

    two workers in hard hats and high visibility gear give celebratory fist pumps while checking paperwork at a processing site with equipment in the background.two workers in hard hats and high visibility gear give celebratory fist pumps while checking paperwork at a processing site with equipment in the background.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX:) has signed an agreement with Tata Steel based in India.

    In today’s trade, the company’s share price lifted 1.37% to close at $37.11. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished 1.65% higher today.

    Let’s take a look at what BHP announced today.

    BHP signs deal with Indian company

    BHP has signed a deal with the global steel-making company Tata Steel Limited (NSE: TATASTEEL). Australia’s multinational mining giant will work with Tata to reduce carbon emissions from iron and steelmaking technology.

    Two major focuses of this deal will be carbon capture during production and the use of biomass as an energy source.

    The technologies could reduce emission intensity from steel mills by as much as 30%, BHP said.

    Both companies want to collaborate to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their climate change ambitions.

    BHP has a goal of reducing emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. In 2050, the company plans to hit net zero emissions.

    Commenting on the news, BHP chief commercial officer Vandita Pant said:

    The partnership with Tata Steel highlights the importance of collaborations in being able to successfully identify and implement emission reduction technologies in steelmaking, including by developing abatements that can apply to the existing blast furnace process to incrementally reduce its carbon emissions intensity.

    BHP share price snapshot

    The BHP share price has shed 15% in the past year although it’s gained around 0.5% year to date.

    In the past month alone, BHP shares have lost more than 12%.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 index has shed nearly 7% in the past year.

    The post Own BHP shares? Here’s why the miner just partnered with one of the world’s biggest steelmakers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    “The worst thing you can do is nothing”

    Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer says right now is not the time to sit on your hands…
    As inflation eats away at cash balances Scott Phillips reveals three stocks for investors to consider that could help fight rising prices…
    … And Bhp Group Ltd isn’t one of them.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    a happy investor, in this case an older gentleman, throws his head back and laughs while reading the newspaper in his garden.a happy investor, in this case an older gentleman, throws his head back and laughs while reading the newspaper in his garden.

    Today was a blissful day for most S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares. All 11 ASX 200 sectors closed Wednesday’s session in the green.

    As of the closing bell, the index was 1.65% higher at 6,759.20 points.

    Leading the charge was the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ), with a 3.8% gain. The sector’s gains followed a decent session on Wall Street overnight.

    The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite lifted 3.1% as most of Australia slept. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Index also gained 2.7% and 2.4% respectively.

    The next best performing sector was the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), recording a 2.5% surge despite iron ore futures falling 2% to US$103.14 overnight.

    Higher oil prices may have also bolstered ASX 200 energy shares today.

    So, with plenty to celebrate across the market, which ASX shares came out on top on Wednesday? Keep reading to find out.

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown

    There was plenty of competition for the top spot among the ASX’s 200 biggest companies by market capitalisation today. As of 3:59pm AEST, only 16 of the 200 were trading in the red.

    Still, there has to be a winner. Today, that was Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR). The lithium stock lifted around 10% on Wednesday. Read up on what’s been going on with Liontown Resources here.

    Today’s biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) $1.1075 9.65%
    Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) $0.6725 8.47%
    Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) $9.30 7.89%
    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) $13.40 6.86%
    GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) $1.495 6.79%
    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) $0.9925 6.72%
    Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) $4.30 6.7%
    Virgin Money UK CDI (ASX:VUK) $2.46 6.03%
    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) $47.68 6.03%
    Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) $87.47 5.73%

    Data as at 3:59pm AEST.

    Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Reliance Worldwide Corporation Limited, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Reliance Worldwide Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • After a horror year, will FY23 see the VAS ETF bounce back?

    A man in business suit wearing old fashioned pilot's leather headgear, goggles and scarf bounces on a pogo stick in a dry, arid environment with nothing else around except distant hills in the background.

    A man in business suit wearing old fashioned pilot's leather headgear, goggles and scarf bounces on a pogo stick in a dry, arid environment with nothing else around except distant hills in the background.

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is the most popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX. But that didn’t stop this index fund from having a pretty dire year over the financial year just gone.

    FY2022 saw the VAS ETF lose a painful 20% or so. That essentially mirrored the losses of the broader S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) that this ETF tracks.

    But FY2022 is now well in the rearview mirror. So what might the current 2023 financial year hold in store for this popular ETF?

    Well, to answer that, let’s look at how this ETF is put together. The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF is an index fund and tracks the ASX 300. This makes it a fairly unique ETF on the ASX. That’s because most other ASX index funds prefer to mirror the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    So VAS holds approximately 300 of the ASX’s largest shares. These are weighted according to market capitalisation (or size). There are 300 individual companies represented in this ETF. But even so, the market cap weighting means that there are only a few ASX shares that really make VAS move and shake.

    To illustrate, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is currently the largest share on the ASX 300 by market cap. Thus, even though it is one of 300 individual holdings in VAS, it still takes up a whopping 10.4% of the ETF’s entire portfolio weighting.

    Throw in the big four ASX bank shares and we have another 18.65% of VAS’s portfolio accounted for. Indeed, VAS’s top ten holdings account for more than 46% of this ETF’s entire weighting.

    So ten ASX shares account for just over 46% of the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF’s portfolio. That means the remaining 290 shares account for the other 54%.

    VAS in FY2023? Here are the shares to watch…

    Thus, if we want to predict what is going to happen to VAS over FY2023, the performance of those ten shares is going to be vital. Therefore, we can conclude that it’s highly likely that if the big four banks, BHP, and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) have a good year in FY2023, then the VAS ETF will as well.

    And say the other VAS top-tenners like CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) also have a decent year. Then it’s almost a done deal that VAS will too.

    So if one wants to take an educated guess as to what will happen to the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF in FY2023, that is what to watch out for.

    The post After a horror year, will FY23 see the VAS ETF bounce back? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Our #1 Strategy for today’s inflation drenched markets

    The ABC recently reported that inflation in the UK has hit an eye watering 40 year high.
    Meanwhile the Reserve Bank believes that by the end of the year inflation in Australia will climb to levels not seen since 1990.
    As prices surge we’ve uncovered 3 “inflation fighting” stocks we think could hand investors outsized returns as the market recalibrates.
    And as Scott Phillips put it
    “There’s one thing to avoid at all costs when inflation hits.
    And that’s doing nothing.”
    We reveal details on these three “inflation fighting” stocks here.

    Learn More
    *Returns as of July 1 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers, CSL Ltd. and Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    Red buy button on an apple keyboard with a finger on it representing asx tech shares to buy today

    Red buy button on an apple keyboard with a finger on it representing asx tech shares to buy today

    Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.

    Three ASX shares brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

    According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating but trimmed their price target on this mining giant’s shares to $44.50. This follows the release of the Big Australian’s quarterly update. While Citi was pleased with BHP’s performance, its guidance was weaker than expected. This has led to the broker downgrading its earnings estimates. Nevertheless, with the broker expecting a 10% dividend yield in FY 2023 and an 8% yield in FY 2024, it remains positive on the investment opportunity here. The BHP share price is trading at $37.14 today.

    JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH)

    Another note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have upgraded this retail giant’s shares to a buy rating with a $47.00 price target. This follows the release of a trading update which revealed a much stronger than expected performance during the fourth quarter. Citi believes this supports its view that household spending will hold up despite rising inflation. So, with its shares underperforming significantly since May and the discretionary sector unloved, the broker now views the risk/reward as favourable. The JB Hi-Fi share price is fetching $43.73 today.

    Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO)

    Analysts at Morgans have upgraded this mining giant’s shares to an add rating with a $113.00 price target. According to the note, the broker believes that recent weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. Particularly given its view that current volatility will moderate later this year as growth in China starts to recover post lockdowns. The Rio Tinto share price is trading at $97.89 on Wednesday.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why has the Pointsbet share price launched 7% today?

    Two children and a dog get set to launch their friend rocketing high into the sky.Two children and a dog get set to launch their friend rocketing high into the sky.

    Wednesday has proven a good day for the Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) share price.

    The stock has leapt a whopping 6.77% at the time of writing to trade at $2.68.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.6% right now.

    So, what might be driving stock in the bookmarker higher today? Let’s take a look.

    What’s driving the Pointsbet share price today?

    The Pointsbet share price is taking off on Wednesday, gaining close to 7% despite the company’s silence.

    Interestingly, neither the company’s home sector nor its ASX peers are recording such dramatic gains right now.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) is currently trading relatively in line with the broader market, gaining 1.5%. Meanwhile, the share price of BetMakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX: BET) is up 3.3%.

    But there could be a simple reason behind Pointsbet’s day in the green. The company’s stock plunged around 6% on Tuesday. Thus, today’s gain could be partly due to profit taking.

    The past 30 days have been busy for the bookmaker’s stock – it’s hit a high of $2.96 and a low of $2.26 over the last month despite no news being released by the company in that time. Though, that’s about to change.

    All eyes will likely be on Pointsbet next Friday when the company releases its update for the fourth quarter of financial year 2022.

    Sadly, today’s gains haven’t been enough to boost the Pointsbet share price into the longer-term green.

    The stock is currently trading 60% lower than it was at the start of 2022. It has also tumbled 75% since this time last year.

    The post Why has the Pointsbet share price launched 7% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Betmakers Technology Group Ltd and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betmakers Technology Group Ltd and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why is the Block share price storming 5% higher today?

    Happy man wearing a blue shirt and glasses holding a card and using buy now pay later services to purchase a product on his office computerHappy man wearing a blue shirt and glasses holding a card and using buy now pay later services to purchase a product on his office computer

    The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price is soaring today amid a positive day for buy now pay later (BNPL) shares.

    The company’s shares are currently swapping hands at $100.63, a 4.71% gain. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is rising 1.61% at the time of writing.

    Let’s take a look at why the Block share price is rising today?

    Why is the Block share price rising?

    Block shares are leaping following a strong night for the company’s US listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

    Block Inc (NYSE: SQ) leapt 4.5% in the USA on Tuesday and jumped a further 1.5% in after hours trade.

    This follows a stellar night for technology and financial shares in the USA. The S&P 500 Index leapt 2.76%, while the tech heavy NASDAQ-100 Index rose 3.13%.

    This rise came despite an analyst at Macquarie shifting its rating on Block’s US listing to neutral with a $64 price target, according to my Foolish colleagues in the US. Susquehanna analyst Jamie Friedman also slashed the price target to $100 per share from $160, however, he retained a buy recommendation on the Block share price.

    Despite these price downgrades, it appears investors have bought up Block shares amid positive sentiment in the wider market.

    Block is not the only BNPL company in the green today. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are leaping 8.48%, while Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) shares are rising 4.88%.

    Block completed its takeover of Afterpay on the first day of February and listed on the ASX as SQ2.

    Block share price snapshot

    The Block share price has surged 24% in the past month. However, it has lost nearly 43% in the year to date.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 Index has lost 3% in the past year.

    Block has a market capitalisation of about $3.8 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Why is the Block share price storming 5% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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