• Has the Bitcoin price bottomed?

    a mysterious person wearing a black hoodie points a finger to a vast illuminated graph tracking bitcoin value with bitcoin symbols floating above the chart.a mysterious person wearing a black hoodie points a finger to a vast illuminated graph tracking bitcoin value with bitcoin symbols floating above the chart.

    After months of pain, has the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price finally made its last walk down despair avenue?

    Cryptocurrency investors have received an extended stint of repetitive lashings since late last year. During this time, the Bitcoin price has receded by a tearful 54% from a top of A$91,100. Today, the original decentralised peer-to-peer payment network is fetching a price of A$41,640.

    However, with the fear and greed index displaying ‘extreme fear’, has the more than decade-old cryptocurrency reached a floor?

    More pain or gain ahead for Bitcoin price?

    As always, there are forecasts being hurled by analysts of all shades between green and red. Though, there are a couple of factors that may suggest the original crypto is getting set for an upwards movement.

    First of all, Tuesday’s bounce that saw the Bitcoin price surge from A$40,500 to A$44,000 broke a nine-week drought of green weekly returns. Commenting on this, head of technical strategy at Fundstrat Global, Mark Newton stated:

    While it might take some time for intermediate-term trends and momentum to improve, it looks right to position long for rallies up to $US34,218 (A$47,783) initially. This marks the first meaningful upside target that also aligns with BTC-USD’s two-month downtrend.

    In other positive news, Bitcoin’s scaling solution for processing transactions — also known as a layer-2 protocol — reached a new all-time high for processing capacity. On 27 May, the Lightning Network hit a capacity of 3,915 BTC.

    Another indicator that might suggest that the Bitcoin price is nearing a bottom is the disconnect between mining cost and mining rewards. As reported by CoinDesk, the high cost of electricity, paired with falling crypto prices, has resulted in unprofitable operations.

    Many Bitcoin mining companies have sold their mined bitcoins in order to sustain operations. This has created downward pressure on the price of the cryptocurrency. In a way, this incentivises further adoption of renewable energy for Bitcoin mining. Which could wash away a pollutant cloud that has hung over Bitcoin’s head.

    The post Has the Bitcoin price bottomed? 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Bitcoin. 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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  • Will the ‘gains continue to unwind’ for the Boral share price?

    Man in mining or construction uniform sits on the floor with worried look on faceMan in mining or construction uniform sits on the floor with worried look on face

    It’s been a tough 2022 so far for Boral Ltd (ASX: BLD) with shares in the building supplies company down more than 51% in the red this year-to-date.

    The Boral share price sank to 52-week lows in February post-dividend when the company returned $3 billion in capital to shareholders. It hasn’t recovered since.

    At the time of writing, the Boral share price is down 1.18%, trading at $2.925.

    Sentiment appears to be shifting

    Analyst sentiment appears to be shifting for Boral, with a string of research notes highlighting impending risks for the company in May.

    UBS analyst Lee Power noted last month that Boral had realised a $47 million benefit to costs on diesel from FY19 to FY21. However, he added:

    With no hedging for diesel post-April 2022, we think the gains over the past few years will continue to unwind.

    We see diesel as more significant than coal and note diesel (net of fuel rebates) represents $59 million of the $130 million in energy and fuel costs in FY21 (versus coal at $14 million).

    Another macro-themed report from UBS by Richard Schellbach also said that Boral was one of 19 stocks that might be facing headwinds due to rising input costs.

    Meanwhile, analysts at Morgan Stanley reckon the market has already priced in any prospect of improved FY23 earnings.

    The broker cut its rating on Boral from equal weight to underweight in a recent note, even though they reckon the company will boost pre-tax earnings.

    It now values Boral at $2.80 per share, a shade ahead of bear Credit Suisse at a $2.60 price target.

    Following sell ratings from Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley in May, calls are now evenly split between buys, holds and sells at one-third each, per Bloomberg data.

    About the Boral share price

    The consensus price target for Boral is $3.35 per share from this list, implying around 13% upside potential at the time of writing.

    In the last 12 months, the Boral share price has sunk more than 57% into the red and trades on a book value per share of $3.81 on last check.

    The post Will the ‘gains continue to unwind’ for the Boral share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    These 5 Cheap Shares Could Be Set For Huge Gains (FREE REPORT)

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

    And while Altium and Afterpay have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can find out the names of these stocks in the FREE stock report.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of February 15th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Bubs, IGO, Strike Energy, and Woodside shares are pushing higher

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed Wall Street’s lead and dropped deep into the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.1% to 7,151.9 points.

    Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

    Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

    The Bubs share price is up almost 8% to 63 cents. This gain appears to be a bit of an overreaction to an announcement that flights have been scheduled to take Bubs’ infant formula to the United States. No changes have been made to the volumes that were previously announced. Time will tell if this is a temporary sales boost or something greater.

    IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

    The IGO share price is up 3% to $11.52. This is despite there being no news out of the battery metals miner. Though, as its shares were sold off on Wednesday following significant weakness in the sector, some investors may believe a buying opportunity has been created.

    Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)

    The Strike Energy share price is up 8.5% to 31.5 cents. This follows an update on production testing activities and operations at the company’s South Erregulla gas discovery. Strike has been testing the producibility from perforations across the Kingia Sandstone reservoir and delivered excellent results. Management is confident that this gas discovery is a large, productive source of low-cost, low impurity natural gas.

    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

    The Woodside share price is up 5% to $31.76. This gain comes despite two developments that you would expect to weigh on the company’s shares. The first is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shareholders now being able to trade the shares they received from the petroleum demerger. The other is a $1.115 billion block trade that was made before the market open at a 3.5% discount of $29.15. It’s possible that the latter has dried up the sell-side in one fell swoop.

    The post Why Bubs, IGO, Strike Energy, and Woodside shares are pushing higher 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 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 recommended BUBS AUST FPO. 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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  • ASX share price slips following first female CEO appointment

    A woman sits at her computer in deep contemplation with her hand to her chin and seriously considering information she is receiving from the screen of her laptop regarding the Xero share priceA woman sits at her computer in deep contemplation with her hand to her chin and seriously considering information she is receiving from the screen of her laptop regarding the Xero share price

    The ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX) share price is in the red during trade on Thursday.

    This comes after the company announced the appointment of its first female CEO.

    At the time of writing, the stock exchange operator’s shares are down 1.61% to $80.12 apiece.

    ASX welcomes first female CEO

    Prior to market open, ASX revealed that Helen Lofthouse would take over the role as managing director and CEO.

    Outgoing CEO Dominic Stevens will continue to hold the top position until 31 July 2022. He will remain in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition before retiring on 30 September 2022.

    Ms Lofthouse is currently ASX’s Group Executive Markets which is its largest business by revenue. Her responsibilities include cash and derivatives trading, including equities, interest rates, commodities and energy products, and the benchmark’s business and international sales.

    Ms Lofthouse joined ASX in September 2015 as a member of the executive leadership team.

    An accomplished financial markets executive with more than 20 years of experience in cash equity and debt markets, Lofthouse will become the company’s first female CEO.

    It marks a milestone move for ASX as an increasing number of women are beginning to take the helm.

    Prior to joining ASX, Ms Lofthouse was based in London where she was a managing director at UBS.

    Before that she worked in various senior roles at JPMorgan.

    Commenting on the move, ASX chair Damian Roche said:

    Given the high calibre of experienced candidates attracted to the position, we are delighted that the outstanding choice to lead ASX as its new CEO comes from within the organisation.

    It is testament to Helen’s qualities and highlights the strength within ASX’s executive ranks. It also reflects the Board’s confidence in the strategy and performance of the company in recent years.

    We look forward to the fresh ideas and enthusiasm Helen will bring to the role as our new CEO. Her appointment ensures a smooth and orderly CEO transition. ASX’s exciting future is in strong and capable hands.

    ASX share price snapshot

    The past 12 months have been a wild ride for investors, with the ASX share price up more than 4.5%.

    Year-to-date, its losses are hovering at almost 14%.

    Based on the current share price, ASX commands a market capitalisation of around $15.51 billion.

    The post ASX share price slips following first female CEO appointment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in ASX right now?

    Before you consider ASX, 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 ASX 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 did the Novonix share price tumble 22% in May?

    a young man sits on the floor with his back against a sofa hunched over his phone in one hand and his other hand on top of his head as though he is seeing bad news as his face looks sad and anguised.a young man sits on the floor with his back against a sofa hunched over his phone in one hand and his other hand on top of his head as though he is seeing bad news as his face looks sad and anguised.

    The Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) share price struggled through last month despite the company staying mostly silent.

    As of the final close of May, the Novonix share price was swapping hands for $4.09. That’s 22% lower than it ended April.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 3% over the same period.

    Let’s take a closer look at what went wrong for the battery materials and technology company’s share price in May.

    What weighed on Novonix’s stock in May?

    The Novonix share price was battered by the market in May. Its tumble followed the release of its quarterly report on April’s final day of trade.

    The company dropped its activities and cash flow reports for the March quarter on 29 April.

    While the Novonix share price lifted 3% that day – likely due to the company’s revenue growth – it tumbled 4% the following session.

    And the stock’s performance didn’t improve much from then on. It was dragged lower alongside many of its S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) peers amid an international tech sell-off.

    In fact, the ASX 200 info tech sector slipped 8.7% last month while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dumped 2%.

    Unfortunately for Novonix investors, the company’s stock is particularly vulnerable to market volatility due to its valuation, as The Motley Fool Australia’s James Mickleboro reported last month.

    The only news issued by the company last month detailed the exit of a key board member.

    Trevor St Baker – billionaire and founder of Novonix investor St Baker Energy Innovation Fund (SBEIF) – stepped down from the company’s board.

    “My resignation should not reflect any diminution of interest by SBEIF or of the St Baker family in Novonix as a serious growth stock in our investment portfolios,” St Baker said.

    The Novonix share price traded relatively flat on the day St Barker announced his resignation.

    Novonix share price snapshot

    Novonix’s stock’s poor performance in May added to its recent struggles.

    Right now, the company’s share price is 65% lower than it was at the start of this year. However, it has gained 53% since this time last year.

    The post Why did the Novonix share price tumble 22% in May? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Novonix right now?

    Before you consider Novonix, 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 Novonix 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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 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 is the Block share price tumbling 4% on Thursday?

    A businessman carrying a briefcase looks at a square peg or block sinking into a round hole.A businessman carrying a briefcase looks at a square peg or block sinking into a round hole.

    The Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price is having a tough day on the ASX market today.

    The company’s share price is currently trading at $115.32, a 4.33% fall from Wednesday’s close. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.97% today.

    There’s no price-sensitive news released by the company today, so what could be impacting the Block share price?

    US listing falls

    Block shares appear to be following a similar trend to the company’s New York Stock Exchange listing today. Block Inc (NYSE: SQ) tumbled 6.4% in the United States on Wednesday. In after hours trade, the NYSE listing is slipping a further 0.62%.

    But Block shares are not the only buy now, pay later (BNPL) shares suffering on the ASX today.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are also sliding 3%, while Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) shares are down 2.88%. The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is 1.74% in the red today.

    Block shares fell after the Wall Street Journal expressed a dire outlook for large players in the BNPL space. The WSJ said:

    Late payments or related losses are piling up for the industry’s biggest players Affirm, AfterPay and Zip Co. Their borrowing costs, meanwhile, are rising.

    Further, the WSJ highlighted that BNPL companies relied on credit lines impacted by interest rates, which are rising. The publication added:

    Investors, once enamored with the business, are backing away. The young industry finds itself in a tricky spot at a time when the economy is slowing and, some fear, headed for a recession.

    Block acquired Afterpay shares earlier this year and listed on the ASX as Block on the first day of February.

    Block share price snapshot

    The Block share price has fallen 35% on the ASX in the year to date, while it is down 20% in the past month alone. In the last week, Block shares have descended by more than 5%.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 index has slid nearly 4% in the year to date.

    Block has a market capitalisation of about $5 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Why is the Block share price tumbling 4% on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Block right now?

    Before you consider Block , 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 Block 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    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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  • What’s in store for the CSL share price in June?

    A woman looks nonplussed as she holds up a handful of Australian $50 notes.

    A woman looks nonplussed as she holds up a handful of Australian $50 notes.

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has been out of form in 2022.

    Since the start of the year, the biotherapeutics giant’s shares have fallen 8% to $268.04.

    Will things start to improve for the CSL share price?

    While the weakness in the CSL share price in 2022 has been disappointing, one leading broker appears to see it as a buying opportunity.

    A recent note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have a buy rating and $335.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Based on the current CSL share price, this implies potential upside of 25% for investors over the next 12 months.

    What is the broker saying?

    CSL believes that recent industry data is pointing to continued improvement in plasma collections and strong underlying demand.

    The broker appears to see this as a sign that trading conditions are normalising, which will lead to the market shifting its focus from supply to demand. And with demand remaining strong, it believes this will be good news for the CSL share price.

    Citi commented:

    The latest quarterly results from Grifols, Takeda and Haemonetics, and recent comments from CSL are all highlighting the continued improvement in plasma collection and strong underlying demand for plasma products.

    This is consistent with our view that over the next six months, we expect the market to shift its focus to the strong underlying plasma product demand, and the closure the Vifor deal, both of which should lead to strength in the share price.

    Citi also feels that the market is underestimating CSL’s growth potential in the coming years and is forecasting stronger than consensus earnings.

    Our FY23-24 EPS estimates remain 5-6% above consensus (we have included the Vifor consensus estimates in our forecasts). The next catalyst will be the closure of the Vifor transaction which is now expected to complete by the end of Sept (previously June).

    All in all, Citi appears to believe now could prove to be an opportune time to invest based on this note.

    The post What’s in store for the CSL share price in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in CSL right now?

    Before you consider CSL, 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 CSL 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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 positions in and has recommended CSL Ltd. 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’s why JPMorgan is bullish on the Newcrest share price

    Man in mining hat with fists raised and eyes closed looking happy and excited about the Newcrest share priceMan in mining hat with fists raised and eyes closed looking happy and excited about the Newcrest share price

    Shares in Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) are rangebound today at $24.40, up 0.12% at the time of writing.

    The Newcrest share price has been volatile in 2022, having rallied as high as $28.84 and slipped to as low as $21.50.

    Meanwhile, the price of gold has been equally as volatile, having booked a circa 1% loss over the past month.

    Returns for both assets for the year to date are plotted on the chart below.

    TradingView Chart

    JPMorgan stays overweight on Newcrest

    Analysts at investment bank JPMorgan retained their overweight rating on Newcrest in a recent note, flagging several positives.

    “Newcrest Mining is an ASX-listed gold producer with assets in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada,” the team noted.

    They feel positive about the potential Brucejack Mill expansion but also cited potential cost pressures across the businesses as a potential headwind.

    Despite Newcrest being the broker’s “…bottom pick in [its] gold coverage…on a forced ranking…”, it still finds Newcrest attractive. The team said the stock offered a potential “FY23E EV/EBITDA of 5.5x, P/NPV of 0.86x and solid 6.3% free cash flow yield”.

    According to the broker’s note:

    Newcrest’s portfolio is underpinned by the world-class Cadia Valley Operations in central-west New South Wales. NCM also operates the Lihir gold operation on Lihir Island off the coast of Papua New Guinea. We have an Overweight rating on the stock, based on valuation.

    The JPMorgan team values Newcrest Mining at $30 per share, slightly behind the consensus price target of $30.37, according to Bloomberg data.

    From that list, 47.1% of brokers covering Newcrest rate it as a buy or hold.

    Newcrest share price snapshot

    In the past 12 months, the Newcrest share price has slipped by more than 13%.

    It has lost 8% in the past four weeks.

    The post Here’s why JPMorgan is bullish on the Newcrest share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Newcrest Mining right now?

    Before you consider Newcrest Mining, 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 Newcrest Mining 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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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  • Which ASX lithium shares are rebounding on Thursday, and which are not?

    Scared looking people on a rollercoaster ride, just like the Afterpay share price in recent months.

    Scared looking people on a rollercoaster ride, just like the Afterpay share price in recent months.

    ASX lithium shares took an absolute hammering yesterday.

    And that’s no hyperbole.

    Having delivered some of the biggest gains on the index over the past 12 months, yesterday saw some leading ASX lithium shares lose almost a quarter of their value. And most every explorer and producer of the critical battery metal was down at least 10% by the closing bell.

    Here’s how some of the top ASX lithium shares fared:

    Why did ASX lithium shares get smashed yesterday?

    If you missed the action yesterday, the rout among ASX lithium shares looks to have been spurred on two fronts.

    First, Argentina – which has some of the world’s largest lithium reserves – cited irregularities in lithium shipments over the past two years. The nation set a reference price for lithium carbonate exports of US$53 per kilogram.

    Bearish sentiment on the mid-term outlook for lithium prices from Goldman Sachs also likely helped drive yesterday’s selloff among ASX lithium shares.

    The closely watched broker said that despite sharply increasing global demand for lithium, “We see the battery metals bull market as over for now.”

    Goldman said that too much investor money pouring into the sector has “generated an outsized supply response well ahead of the demand trend in focus. In this context, we see prices on a downward trajectory over the course of the next two years, with a sharp correction in lithium”.

    There may well be a third reason for yesterday’s price falls, as reported by my Foolish colleague James.

    As he noted, “Warren Buffett-backed electric vehicle company BYD is planning to buy six lithium mines in Africa.” This has the potential to add yet more supply to a potentially oversupplied market over the medium term.

    Bargain hunters swoop in

    It’s a decidedly different picture for ASX lithium shares today.

    While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.9%, all but one of the stocks named above are in the green as some bargain hunting looks to be taking place.

    Here’s how these lithium stocks are faring during mid-day trading today:

    • Allkem shares are up 1.9%
    • IGO shares are up 4.3%
    • Pilbara Minerals shares are up 1.7%
    • Liontown Resources shares are up 5.2%
    • Core Lithium shares are up 5.4%
    • Lake Resources shares are up 0.7%
    • Sayona Mining shares are down 4.1%

    The post Which ASX lithium shares are rebounding on Thursday, and which are not? 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    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 is the ‘new’ Woodside share price leaping 6% today?

    Businessman outside jumps in the air as the Woodside share price rises todayBusinessman outside jumps in the air as the Woodside share price rises today

    The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is lifting on Thursday despite more than 900 million new shares in the energy giant hitting the market.

    The shares were issued as part of the company’s merger with BHP Petroleum International Pty Ltd. That’s the oil and gas arm of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

    An expected selldown following their release might have been minimised by a reported block trade.

    At the time of writing, the Woodside share price is $31.66, 4.84% higher than its previous close.

    In earlier trading, it reached an intraday high of $32.06, up 6.2%. This is the highest price that the company has traded at since its renaming.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.92% right now. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is one of only two ASX sectors in the green today, gaining 2.73%.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on with Woodside on Thursday.

    Woodside share price surges following block trade

    More than 914 million new Woodside shares are being distributed to BHP shareholders today after the merger was completed.

    Their release could have sparked a major sell-off event. However, a strategic block trade might have helped the now $57 billion energy monolith dodge it.

    About 38 million shares in Woodside were auctioned off to institutional investors for $29.15 per share overnight, reports the Australian Financial Review (AFR). That has likely resulted in less churn of Woodside shares as BHP investors decide whether to keep or sell their allocated holdings.

    Additionally, the publication noted an upcoming block trade generally sees institutional traders steering clear of the stock.

    Thus, finalising the trade prior to today’s open might have helped bolster institutional interest in Woodside stock.

    JPMorgan was reportedly the sole book-runner of the $1.1 billion block trade.

    The broker also noted that funds overweight in the ASX 200 energy sector will need to up their holdings in the much larger Woodside following the merger, reports The Australian. That could cause demand for the energy giant’s stock to surge.

    At the time of writing, more than 54 million Woodside shares have swapped hands on Thursday. That’s more than the volume traded on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday combined.

    The post Why is the ‘new’ Woodside share price leaping 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woodside right now?

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 Woodside 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 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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