• Why has the Piedmont Lithium share price cratered 13% in a week?

    A woman sits on her lounge in front of her laptop looking concerned about the falling Archtis share priceA woman sits on her lounge in front of her laptop looking concerned about the falling Archtis share price

    The Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX: PLL) share price has reversed all of its gains since the start of the month.

    This comes despite the company not releasing any price-sensitive news to the ASX lately.

    At market close, shares in the Australian lithium miner finished the day at 80 cents, down 3.03%. This means that its shares have lost 13% in a week.

    Let’s take a look at what could be driving the fall around the company’s share price.

    What has happened to Piedmont shares?

    Investors are continuing to offload Piedmont shares after heavy falls across the lithium sector in the past week.

    As widely reported, Goldman Sachs sent shockwaves across the lithium industry following its bearish report.

    The United States-based investment behemoth predicted that lithium prices will drop to US$16,000 per tonne in 2023.

    Currently, the going price for the battery making ingredient is around US$70,000. This represents a drop of more than 77% in the coming year.

    According to Goldman Sachs, the sharp correction is being driven by “fundamental mispricing which has generated an outsized supply response.”

    While lithium miners dismissed the negative analysis, investors sidelined with Goldman Sachs, sending lithium stocks south.

    On the upside, the broker believes that long-term demand for lithium will remain robust from around 2024.

    Piedmont share price summary

    Despite the recent fall, the Piedmont share price has risen by almost 9% in 2022.

    However, when looking at the longer-term, the company’s shares are down 12% over the past 12 months.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has tumbled 4.6% in 2022, and 2.5% since this time last year.

    Based on today’s price, Piedmont commands a market capitalisation of roughly $453.71 million.

    The post Why has the Piedmont Lithium share price cratered 13% in a week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Piedmont Lithium right now?

    Before you consider Piedmont Lithium, 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 Piedmont Lithium 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 Temple & Webster share price plunge 10% today?

    Sad woman on a sofa.Sad woman on a sofa.

    The Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) share price had a tough day today.

    The company’s share price dropped 10.42% to $3.87. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.53% today.

    So what impacted the Temple & Webster share price today?

    RBA rate decision

    The Temple & Webster share price finished the day well in the red, but it was not the only ASX retail share to drop.

    The JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) share price slipped 3.45% today, while Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) shares fell 1.16% and the Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK) share price dropped 1.85%.

    Temple & Webster shares fell in the lead up to and following the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifting interest rates this afternoon.

    The RBA lifted the benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage points today to curb inflation, as my Foolish colleague Bernd reported. The cash rate now sits at 0.85%.

    A rate hike was widely predicted. Goldman Sachs predicted the 0.50% jump, while other analysts predicted more modest increases of between 0.25 and 0.4%.

    Interest rate rises can impact retail shares due to rising costs and consumers having less spare cash to spend on retail including furniture and homewares.

    Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe said: “Inflation in Australia has increased significantly. While inflation is lower than in most other advanced economies, it is higher than earlier expected.”

    City Index senior market analyst Matt Simpson said the rate hike was the first 50 basis point (bps) rise since February 2000. He added:

    That’s also 75-bps over the past two meetings, which makes it their most aggressive back to back meeting on record.

    I really think the RBA have restored some credibility today by coming out swinging.

    Multiple brokers have recently rated the Temple & Webster share price as a buy, including Credit Suisse, UBS, and Morgan Stanley.

    In a recent update, the company launched a new online business named The Build with 20,000 products in 39 categories.

    Temple & Webster share price snapshot

    The Temple & Webster share price has fallen 64% in the past year, and by a similar amount in the year to date. It’s also down 12% over the past month and 17% in a week.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost nearly 3% in the past year.

    The post Why did the Temple & Webster share price plunge 10% 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group 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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  • ASX retail shares tumble following RBA rate rise

    Sad shopper sitting on a sofa with shopping bags.Sad shopper sitting on a sofa with shopping bags.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) retail shares suffered alongside the broader market this afternoon amid the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to hike interest rates by 0.5%.

    It comes just one month after the RBA lifted rates by 0.35% – bringing the national cash rate to 0.85%. And more hikes could be on the cards for coming months.

    The CEO of industry body National Retail Association described the RBA’s decision – likely to hit consumers in the pockets and weigh on retailers’ bottom lines – as “heavy-handed”.

    The ASX 200 plunged 1.53% on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) tumbled 2.34%.

    ASX 200 retail shares slump following RBA decision

    As of Tuesday’s close, the share prices of ASX 200 retail giants JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) were down 3.4% and 1.1% respectively.

    Retail-focused conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)’s stock slumped 3.8%.

    Finally, ASX 200 retail shares City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX) and Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) are also feeling the brunt. They fell 3.2% and 2.1% respectively.

    RBA governor Philip Lowe noted inflation in Australia is lower than in other advanced economies but higher than was previously expected.

    Many factors making headwinds for ASX 200 retailers ­– COVID-19 and supply chain issues – also drove inflation this year.

    But National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb is dubious that such a hike was necessary.

    She called the RBA’s decision “heavy-handed”, saying the regulator moved too fast to increase interest rates.

    “Many retailers are watching consumer confidence rapidly slipping [amid] a raft of increasing costs and external factors such as the cost of fuel, power … increasing wages, and supply chain issues,” Lamb told The Motley Fool Australia. She continued:

    Interest rate rises in quick succession impacts the willingness of consumers to spend and invest in their homes and [they will] shrink their basket sizes.

    At the end of the day, many retailers are hanging on and this could be the last straw.

    The post ASX retail shares tumble following RBA rate rise 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 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 Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. and Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd., Super Retail Group 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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  • 4 reasons ASX 200 tech shares might be down, but not out: expert

    Two brokers analysing the share price with the woman pointing at the screen and man talking on a phone.Two brokers analysing the share price with the woman pointing at the screen and man talking on a phone.

    Good luck sugarcoating the performance of tech shares over the last six months.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index in the United States is officially in a bear market, down 23%. Meanwhile, the picture isn’t any prettier in Australia, with the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) down 32.8%.

    Put simply, it has been complete pandemonium in the tech sector. The onset of rising interest rates has been a figurative vampire to the lofty valuations once witnessed among the high-flying sector — slowly sucking the enthusiasm from shareholders.

    However, one expert portfolio manager, Bradley Amoils of Axiom Investors, believes the sun will shine on tech shares once again. If that is the case, perhaps exuberance will also return to ASX 200 tech shares.

    Let’s take a look at the four reasons behind this expert’s tech confidence.

    Why this isn’t the end for tech shares

    It is hard to argue that many tech companies were experiencing a state of euphoria prior to the recent pullback. However, the manager of around $22 billion worth of funds is not buying into the demise of tech.

    In an interview with the AFR, Amoils addressed the real impact of higher interest rates, stating:

    …it’s really important that if the consumer is spending twice as much on gasoline and 50 per cent more on food, clearly they have less money to spend on other things.

    This means products sold by some of Amoils core holdings such as Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), will be competing for a share in less spare dollars.

    Despite this headwind, the seasoned money manager believes four positive long-term factors still ring true for tech shares. These are debt, demographics, deglobalisation, and disruption.

    The first two factors are what could be setting up the tech shares for outperformance. Essentially, enlargening debt and an aging population are indicating a continued slowing in global economic growth. This sets the scene for potential outperformance by the companies that can disrupt and deliver sustainable double-digit growth into the future.

    Finally, supply chain woes and political incompatibilities are accelerating a trend towards deglobalisation. Amoils believes this will catapult domestic spending on technological developments in individual regions.

    Landscape for those inside the ASX 200

    Many ASX investors will be hoping Bradley Amoils’ four factors prevail. After all, only one of the top 10 ASX All Tech index constituents is in the green so far this year.

    The three worst impacted ASX 200 tech shares have been Xero Limited (ASX: XRO), REA Group Limited (ASX: REA), and Altium Limited (ASX: ALU). These once-lauded investments are now on their knees after cratering 45%, 38%, and 38% respectively.

    The post 4 reasons ASX 200 tech shares might be down, but not out: expert 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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    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has positions in Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Altium, Microsoft, Tesla, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and REA Group 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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  • How does the Westpac dividend yield compare to the other ASX banks?

    A woman has a thoughtful look on her face as she studies a fan of Australian 20 dollar bills she is holding on one hand while he rest her other hand on her chin in thought.A woman has a thoughtful look on her face as she studies a fan of Australian 20 dollar bills she is holding on one hand while he rest her other hand on her chin in thought.

    When it comes to Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares, it’s probably fair to say that investors expect big things. Not in terms of share price appreciation (although that is always welcome on the ASX). But in terms of dividend payments. As an ASX 200 bank (and a big four bank at that), Westpac is well-known as a strong dividend-paying share.

    This blue-chip share has been paying generous and fairly regular dividends for decades, alongside most other ASX bank shares.

    But Westpac’s credentials have also been rocked in recent years. For one, the bank has been subject to a number of fines from the government’s regulators.

    Westpac was also the only ASX big four bank not to pay a final dividend in 2020, the first time it had skipped a biannual dividend payment for decades.

    So how does the Westpac dividend measure up in mid-2022 compared to the other ASX banking shares? Well, let’s dig in and find out.

    Does the Westpac dividend stand out from the other ASX bank shares?

    As it currently stands, Westpac shares offer a fully franked dividend yield of 5.13% (7.33% grossed-up). That comes from the bank’s last two dividend payments, which consist of the upcoming interim payout of 61 cents per share that investors will receive on 24 June, as well as the final dividend of 60 cents that was doled out in December last year.

    That compares quite well to a number of the other ASX banking shares. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is certainly at the back of the line when it comes to yields on offer today. CBA shares currently have a fully franked yield of 3.67% on the tablet today.

    Turning to the other big four banks, we have National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares, with a fully franked yield of 4.64% on offer. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) pips Westpac though, with its current, fully franked yield of 5.88%.

    So Westpac gets the dividend yield silver medal when it comes to the big four.

    However, some other ASX banks currently have even higher yields on display right now. Take Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ). It’s currently offering a fully franked dividend yield of 5.95% on recent pricing. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) isn’t quite as impressive but still has a fully franked 5.01% yield as it presently stands.

    So all in all, the Westpac dividend yield is towards the upper echelons of what the ASX banking sector is currently offering investors today when it comes to income. But things can change quickly in this space, so don’t expect this situation to last forever.

    The post How does the Westpac dividend yield compare to the other ASX banks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Westpac, 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 Westpac 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in National Australia Bank Limited. 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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • Representing 40% of Warren Buffett’s portfolio, here is why Apple is a great stock to own today

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    A woman is excited as she reads the latest rumour on her phone.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Uncertainty has been the name of the game recently, as the stock market continues to face an immense amount of pressure from high inflation, rising interest rates, and economic impacts linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine. It comes as no surprise that technology stocks have been particularly humbled, with the Nasdaq Composite slipping almost 25% since the start of the year.

    Some of the world’s paramount tech companies like Netflix and Meta Platforms have delivered weak financial reports in recent quarters as the technology sector as a whole tries to navigate unfavorable macroeconomic conditions. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), however, is one of few companies that has sustained strong operational success in the past few months. In a market full of uncertainty today, the technology juggernaut offers investors an ideal investment opportunity. I think the great Warren Buffett would agree as well — the iPhone maker currently represents 40% of his Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) investment portfolio.  

    Resiliency at its finest

    Apple alleviated some investor unease by reporting an in-line Q2 2022 report. In the past twelve quarters, the tech leader has now beat earnings estimates each time and has only missed on revenue forecasts once, highlighting management’s strong visibility of the business. Total revenue and earnings per share (EPS) both increased 8.6% year-over-year, up to $97.3 billion and $1.52, respectively, and operating margin remained stable from a year ago at 30.8%. 

    The company has a fantastic one-two punch with its products and services business segments. While its products business — which includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac, wearables, Home, and accessories — increased a moderate 6.6% year-over-year to $77.5 billion, the company’s services segment — which comprises Apple Music, AppleTV+, the App Store, iCloud, and other subscription services — surged 17.3% to $19.8 billion. 

    Apple is well-positioned for future growth given its stable products segment and the untapped potential of its services business, which continues to make headway quarter after quarter. For the full year, Wall Street analysts project the company’s revenue to climb 7.7% year-over-year to $394.0 billion, and its EPS to rise 9.4% to $6.14. I think Apple’s steady growth in the wake of gloomy economic conditions, combined with its $28.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, make the technology giant a no-brainer today. And fortunately for investors, the broader market sell-off has pulled Apple’s stock price down with it, making the company’s valuation attractive at the moment. 

    Apple’s valuation has normalized 

    Apple’s share price has fallen 19% year-to-date, making its valuation much more attractive than what it was at the start of the year. The stock currently sports a price-to-earnings multiple of 24, which is largely in line with its five-year average of 23. But unlike many of its technology counterparts, the company’s valuation has shrunk in spite of maintaining success on the business front. Thus investors with lengthy time horizons can exploit the ongoing sell-off by purchasing shares of Apple at current valuation levels.

    AAPL PE Ratio Chart

    AAPL PE Ratio data by YCharts

    I like Apple today

    Apple is among the few technology companies that have continued to deliver strong financial results recently. Even still, the stock has been punished by investors, leaving it down almost 20% since the beginning of 2022. I believe investors should take advantage of the unjustified sell-off by accumulating shares of Apple stock today. The company’s business is in wonderful condition, and I feel its robust balance sheet and cash generation make it a very stable investment right now. 

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Representing 40% of Warren Buffett’s portfolio, here is why Apple is a great stock to own today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Apple, 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 Apple 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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    Luke Meindl has positions in Apple. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Meta Platforms, Inc., and Netflix. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple, short January 2023 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2023 $265 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Meta Platforms, Inc., and Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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  • Own Rio Tinto shares? Here’s why the miner is being sued by this Russian aluminium producer

    A judge bangs down the gavel.A judge bangs down the gavel.

    Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) shares have pushed higher in 2022 and are now trading more than 16% in the green at $116.56 at the time of writing. That includes a 0.79% gain today.

    However, reports say the miner is now embroiled in a Federal Court battle in Australia with the world’s second-largest aluminium producer, Rusal.

    In wider market moves, the S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index (ASX: XMM) is flat today but is up by more than 10% year to date.

    Rio to face lawsuit over aluminium decision

    The Rio Tinto share price is climbing today amid a report by Reuters that Russian aluminium giant Rusal has filed a lawsuit against Rio to regain control of its 20% stake in Queensland Alumina Ltd.

    Following its decision to sever ties with Russian businesses, Rio – the already 80% owner – took full control of the aluminium refinery in April.

    Rusal has swiped back via its Australian subsidiary in an Australian Federal Court, arguing that Rio’s decision was a breach of obligations, Reuters reports.

    It asked the Federal Court to restore its rights of ownership at Queensland Aluminium, seeking confirmation of no further sanctions in the process.

    Australia had banned the export of alumina and bauxite to Russia back in March, in keeping with international sanctions on the country. A Federal Court decision awaits.

    Meanwhile, the price of aluminium has just bounced from a key support level after sliding heavily from its 52-week highs.

    It now trades at US$2,789 per tonne, well off a peak of US$3,849 in March, but still well above its mark heading into the pandemic.

    Rio Tinto share price snapshot

    After bouncing off lows of $102 in March, Rio Tinto shares are now fetching $116.56 apiece on Tuesday afternoon.

    In the last 12 months, the Rio Tinto share price has clipped a 7% loss, despite climbing 16% this year to date.

    The post Own Rio Tinto shares? Here’s why the miner is being sued by this Russian aluminium producer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Rio Tinto right now?

    Before you consider Rio Tinto, 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 Rio Tinto 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

    More reading

    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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  • Is the ASX about to wave goodbye to this billion-dollar nickel miner?

    Bird's eye view of a pair of yellow shoes next to a goodbye sign written in chalk on the pavementBird's eye view of a pair of yellow shoes next to a goodbye sign written in chalk on the pavement

    The ASX could be about to bid farewell to nickel mining giant Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) as the company prepares to be acquired by S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) resources monolith IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO).

    If all goes according to plan, Western Areas shares will be suspended from trading as of tomorrow’s close. That will mark an end to the company’s 22-year chapter on the ASX.

    At the time of writing, the Western Areas share price is $3.87, 0.13% higher than its previous close.

    For context, the ASX 200 is currently down 1.39% while the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is down 0.19%.  

    Let’s take a closer look at what the next few days could bring Western Areas.

    Will tomorrow be this ASX nickel miner’s last day of trade?

    The ongoing acquisition of $1.2 billion nickel miner Western Areas by IGO has taken another step forward as the Supreme Court of Western Australia gives the takeover its tick of approval.

    Now, all that there is to do is for Western Areas to lodge a copy of the court’s orders to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), making the scheme legally effective. The company plans to do so tomorrow.

    After the document is submitted, the company’s stock is expected to close for the last time.

    Though, Western Areas shareholders won’t be left out in the cold. They’ll receive $3.87 cold hard cash for every share in the company they own.

    That’s up from IGO’s previous bid of $3.36 per share. It was placed before the now-renown short squeeze that saw the price of nickel rocketing 250% in a single day.

    Thus, an independent expert found the initial bid – placed in December – undervalued the billion-dollar nickel miner come April.

    It was a lucky happening for Western Area shareholders. They are now likely expecting a payout in the near future.

    The post Is the ASX about to wave goodbye to this billion-dollar nickel miner? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Western Areas right now?

    Before you consider Western Areas, 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 Western Areas 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

    More reading

    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 has the Newcrest share price tumbled 9% in a month?

    A frustrated male investor frowns with his hands and arms open asking why the share price has dropped todayA frustrated male investor frowns with his hands and arms open asking why the share price has dropped today

    The Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) share price has been struggling in the past month.

    The ASX 200 gold miner’s share price has descended nearly 9% since market close on 6 May and is currently trading at $24.07. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has dropped nearly 1% in the same timeframe.

    So what is happening to the Newcrest Mining share price?

    Gold loses its shine

    Newcrest is not the only ASX gold share to slump in the past month. The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price has sunk almost 10% since market close on 6 May, while Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares have shed 5%.

    Gold prices have fallen more than 2% from US$1,882.80 an ounce on 6 May to US$1,843.70 an ounce at the time of writing, CNBC data shows. The gold price hit a more than three month low of US$1,808.20 an ounce on 13 May before recovering to the current price.

    Broker downgrades may have also impacted the Newcrest share price. UBS cut the Newcrest 12-month price target by 2.2%, while Macquarie analysts lowered their target by 2.9% after the company’s third-quarter results on 28 April. However, these brokers still believe the company’s shares will jump higher than the current price.

    In early May, Newcrest was listed as a share that has fallen into “underheld” territory in the JP Morgan’s Fund Manager Radar report.

    On 23 May, the market was advised Newcrest will operate the next stage of the Wilki Project in the Paterson Province of Western Australia. As part of an agreement with Antipa Minerals Limited (ASX: AZY), Newcrest will spend $6 million on exploration within the next two years. The company then needs to pay $10 million by 2025 to attain a 51% joint venture interest and $44 million by March 2028 to own a 75% share in the project.

    In recent news, analysts at JPMorgan have placed an overweight rating on the Newcrest share price with a $30 price target. This is 24% more than the share price at the time of writing.

    Newcrest Mining share price snapshot

    The Newcrest share price has slipped nearly 13% in the past year, while it has descended nearly 2% in the year to date.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX 200 index has lost 2% in the past year.

    Newcrest has a market capitalisation of about $21 billion based on its current share price.

    The post Why has the Newcrest share price tumbled 9% in a month? 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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    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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  • 3 high quality ETFs for ASX investors to buy this month

    ETF written in yellow with a yellow underline and the full word spelt out in white underneath.

    ETF written in yellow with a yellow underline and the full word spelt out in white underneath.

    There are a growing number of exchange traded funds (ETFs) for investors to choose from on the Australian share market.

    But which ETFs should you look at? Listed below are three excellent ETFs that could be worth getting better acquainted with. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF (ASX: CRYP)

    The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF. This high risk ETF gives investors easy access to the main players in the cryptocurrency market. These are the miners, neobanks, trading platforms, and mining equipment providers. Among its holdings you’ll find Coinbase, Silvergate, and Riot Blockchain. All of these companies look well-placed for strong growth over the next decade if the crypto industry proves not to be a bubble waiting to burst.

    BetaShares Global Banks ETF (ASX: BNKS)

    Another ETF for investors to look at is BetaShares Global Banks ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to many of the world’s largest banks and excludes Australian banks. This provides investors with the opportunity to spread their financial sector risk beyond the Australian banking sector. It also gives investors easy exposure to rising interest rates, which are likely to be a boost to bank margins. Among the banks included in the fund are Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, HSBC, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo.

    VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

    A final ETF to look at is the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. This ETF is focused on companies with attractive valuations and sustainable competitive advantages or moats. At the last count, the ETF was home to 46 with these desirable qualities. Among the ETF’s holdings are the likes of Alphabet (Google), Altria, Boeing, Coca Cola, Kellogg Co, and Walt Disney.

    The post 3 high quality ETFs for ASX investors to buy this month 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

    More reading

    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 BetaShares Global Banks ETF – Currency Hedged and Betashares Crypto Innovators ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. 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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