• These 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts on Monday

    a woman struggles to hold a large pile of folders and documents with only her eyes appearing over the top of the pile.

    a woman struggles to hold a large pile of folders and documents with only her eyes appearing over the top of the pile.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has kicked off the week’s trading on a pleasing footing, as it stands so far this Monday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up by a robust 0.27% at just over 7,420 points. 

    But let’s delve deeper into these gains and check out the ASX 200 shares topping the share market’s trading volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Monday

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Telstra is our first cab off the rank today. This ASX 200 telco has experienced a notable 11.26 million of its shares trading on the markets thus far. There’s been no major news out of Telstra so far today, except for a routine share buyback notice. 

    However, the Telstra share price is bucking the markets today, and not in a good way. The company is presently down by 0.65% at $3.88 a share. It’s probably this move that has sparked the high share volumes we are seeing. 

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    ASX 200 lithium producer Pilbara is next up. Pilbara has had a hefty 14.4 million shares find a new home on the ASX boards thus far. Again, this doesn’t seem to be a result of anything out of the company directly.

    In saying that, Pilbara is another company that has had a notable market move this Monday. Although fortunately for investors, it’s the opposite of Telstra. The Pilbara share price is currently up a robust 1.1% at $3.24 a share. That puts this lithium share’s five-day gains at an impressive 10.75%. This is probably the reason why we are seeing Pilbara shares on this list today. 

    AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ)

    Our third and final ASX 200 share of the day today goes to another lithium share in AVZ. At this point in time, this Monday has had a whopping 25.92 million AVZ shares bought and sold. This is almost certainly the result of the dramatic moves we have seen on the share market surrounding this company.

    The AVZ share price is currently up a pleasing 4.56% at $1.149 a share. However, the company went as high as $1.20 a share earlier today, a new all-time high for AVZ Minerals. The company is now up more than 25% over the past five trading days alone. No wonder we are seeing such high trading volumes today. 

    The post These 3 ASX 200 shares are topping the volume charts on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns Telstra Corporation 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 owns and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Ethereum price outpaces Bitcoin as crypto investors eye ‘The Merge’

    a headless man in a business suit holds out his palm where a graphic image of a sphere appears with the word 'Ethereum' while his other hand points to it amid a dark background.

    a headless man in a business suit holds out his palm where a graphic image of a sphere appears with the word 'Ethereum' while his other hand points to it amid a dark background.

    The Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) price is up 5% since this time yesterday.

    The world’s number 2 cryptocurrency by market cap is currently trading for US$3,311 (AU$4,395).

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price is rallying too, also up 5% overnight to US$46,935.

    But step back in time two weeks and the Ethereum price has gained an impressive 31%. That compares to a 24% gain for Bitcoin, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

    So, why the outperformance?

    Ethereum price rising ahead of software upgrade

    What was formerly billed as Eth2 has now been rebranded ‘The Merge’.

    According to the Ethereum website:

    This upgrade represents the official switch to proof-of-stake consensus. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive mining, and instead secures the network using staked ether. Ethereum Mainnet continues to be secured by proof-of-work, even while the Beacon Chain runs in parallel using proof-of-stake. The Merge is when these two systems finally come together.

    Crypto analysts are broadly bullish on the Ethereum price in relation to The Merge.

    According to senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Jamie Douglas Coutts:

    The Ethereum network’s next major, ambitious milestone will likely catalyse millions of new adopters. Negative perceptions over energy consumption have plagued proof-of-work chains, so the response from the market to the Merge may be overwhelmingly positive, as energy use is expected to decline 99%.

    Solidly in the overwhelmingly positive camp is Kain Warwick, founder of derivatives trading system Synthetix.

    On the back of The Merge, Warwick last week forecast the Ethereum price will more than triple in 2022, reaching US$10,000.

    “New people wanting to swap dollars for Ethereum and build on top were finding the fees completely prohibitive,” Warwick said. “But there has been so much work done on scaling the Ethereum blockchain that there is a really credible case for new entrants where it is viable for them to transact.”

    The post Ethereum price outpaces Bitcoin as crypto investors eye ‘The Merge’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Ethereum, 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 Ethereum 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. owns and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why is the Renascor (ASX:RNU) share price losing charge on Monday?

    Red arrow going down on a stock market table which symbolises a falling share price.

    Red arrow going down on a stock market table which symbolises a falling share price.

    The Renascor Resources Ltd (ASX: RNU) share price has started the week in the red.

    In afternoon trade, the graphite developer’s shares are down 5% to 28 cents.

    What’s going on with the Renascor share price?

    Investors have been selling down the Renascor share price despite the release of an update on the company’s Siviour Battery Anode Material (BAM) Project.

    According to the release, work is progressing on an updated, optimised BAM Study, building on previous detailed feasibility work undertaken by Renascor for the planned vertically integrated mine and advanced manufacturing operation in South Australia.

    The release explains that GR Engineering Services (ASX: GNG) is acting as study manager and engineering designer.

    Management highlights that the optimised BAM Study will incorporate material improvements to the mineral processing parameters adopted in the earlier study. This includes increases in spherical graphite milling yields and improvements to both the Graphite Concentrate flotation and downstream purification circuits.

    Furthermore, the optimised BAM Study is assessing an increase in Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) production capacity, as well as additional staged expansions of PSG operations in order to meet projected demand. Management advised that studies to date have considered an initial Stage 1 production capacity of 28,000tpa of PSG.

    This could be very lucrative given that Fastmarkets is currently reporting PSG prices of US$3,500 to US$3,800 per tonne. This is a 40% increase over the last six months and is being driven by demand for use in the production of anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

    So why are its shares falling?

    The weakness in the Renascor share price today may have been driven by the inclusion of a couple of risk factors in the company’s update.

    Firstly, Renascor reminded investors that it is still seeking approval for its Siviour Graphite Mine. The release explains that the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining has completed its initial review of the company’s Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation and the two parties are in active discussions regarding a final approval.

    In addition, the release highlights that Renascor recently became aware of an application seeking patent protection over certain previously known and published procedures for purifying graphite. Renascor has now opposed the pending patent application to protect and preserve its flexibility to use these processing procedures (or similar), should it wish to do so.

    While these issues are likely to be surmountable, the uncertainty appears to be weighing on sentiment and the Renascor share price a touch today.

    The post Why is the Renascor (ASX:RNU) share price losing charge on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Renascor, 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 Renascor 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why have investors been selling off CBA shares?

    Young woman using computer laptop with hand on chin thinking about question, pensive expression.

    Young woman using computer laptop with hand on chin thinking about question, pensive expression.

    Looking at the recent Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price, you wouldn’t think investors have been in a selling mood. CBA shares are well in the green today, recording a gain of 0.73% at the time of writing at $106.69 a share. That puts CBA up just over 4% in 2022 so far, as well as an impressive 14.1% since the start of March. It also means CBA is now up just over 24.5% over the past 12 months. 

    And yet, many investors have been cashing out of their Commonwealth Bank holdings. We know this because of Gemma Dale of NABtrade. Ms Dale joined Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips on Ausbiz recently to discuss the share trading trends that she is seeing in NABtrade customer accounts.

    Why are investors selling out of CBA shares?

    Dale told Ausbiz that ASX banks like CBA still make up very large proportions (35-40%) of many investors’ share portfolios, helped more recently by “massive buying” during the COVID crash of 2020. However, she also said that NABtrade has noticed some strong retail selling in ASX banks of late, particularly with CBA and National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB). Here’s some of what she said: 

    So now with NAB above $31, the selling is unbelievable, 85%-plus sell on NAB… why wouldn’t [investors] take some profits at this point? Also, they’ve seen NAB above that level and fall back away before so they’ve taken the opportunity to lock that in… CBA at $107, that was a 90%-plus sell… It’s mostly trimming at this level. [Investors are] pretty keen to lock in those numbers.

    So Ms Dale argues that many retail investors (nine in ten at one point) are selling out of CBA now that the share price is approaching the bank’s all-time high of just above $110 a share. That could explain why we’ve seen some volatility with the CBA share price over the past week. Indeed, CBA shares have touched close to $106 and gone as high as $107.50 in just the past few days. And remember, this is a company that is still up 14% over this month alone. That would be enough to give more than a few investors itchy fingers. 

    We’ll have to wait and see what the CBA share price does next and whether it is on track to beat that all-time high of $120.19 that we saw back in August last year. 

    In the meantime, the current Commonwealth Bank of Australia share price gives CBA a market capitalisation of $182 billion, with a dividend yield of 3.52%. 

    The post Why have investors been selling off CBA shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider CBA, 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 CBA 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 Sebastian Bowen owns 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 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • 3 ASX All Ords shares smashing 52-week highs today

    three young children weariing business suits, helmets and old fashioned aviator goggles wear aeroplane wings on their backs and jump with one arm outstretched into the air in an arid, sandy landscape.three young children weariing business suits, helmets and old fashioned aviator goggles wear aeroplane wings on their backs and jump with one arm outstretched into the air in an arid, sandy landscape.

    It’s a good day for ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares, with both the All Ords and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in the green.

    Right now, the All Ords is up 0.31% while the ASX 200 has gained 0.41%.

    But some stocks are doing better than others. These 3 ASX All Ords shares are trading at their highest point in at least 12 months today.

    Let’s take a look at what has helped drive them higher.

    3 ASX All Ords shares launching to new 52-week highs

    Arafura Resources Limited (ASX: ARU)

    Alls Ords newbie Arafura Resources has hit a new 52-week high on Monday, surging to trade for 34.5 cents.

    Its gains come despite no news from the company. However, it was recently added to the benchmark index. The ASX rare earths share will be celebrating the anniversary of its first week on the All Ords today.

    That might have boosted trading of its shares lately, which could have helped support its record share price.

    Additionally, the company’s been on a mostly green streak since it announced it had received $30 million of grant funding for the construction of its rare earths separation plant in the Northern Territory a fortnight ago.

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    The Whitehaven Coal share price also hit a new 52-week high on Monday, gaining 1.1% to reach $4.53 in intraday trade.

    It comes after the company’s stock was one of the ASX 200’s best performers last week. It gained 12% amid positive results from its peer New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC).

    Additionally, its share price may have been boosted by news last week the company was asked to supply at least 70,000 tonnes of coal to Ukraine.

    The coal will be a donation from the Australian government. The federal government will buy the black rocks from Whitehaven and pay for their delivery to Ukraine.

    In a statement, several Morrison Government ministers said the donation followed a request for assistance from the Ukrainian Government. The coal is needed to support the European country’s power grid.

    However, the donation is not without controversy. According to The Guardian, it’s unclear whether Whitehaven ­– reportedly a Liberal Party donor – was the only major coalminer approached to fill the donation.

    Firefinch Ltd (ASX: FFX)

    Finally, ASX All Ords stock Firefinch is also seeing its share price moving upwards today.

    In fact, it reached a new 52-week high of $1.015 in intraday trade.

    The gain comes after the company announced final conditions for the joint venture between Firefinch and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co have been met.

    The joint venture company now holds the exploitation licence for the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali in western Africa.

    Now, the Firefinch can divest its holding in the joint venture to a spin-off company – Leo Lithium Limited.

    A timeline for the demerger is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Firefinch shareholders will get to have their say on the plan after that.

    The post 3 ASX All Ords shares smashing 52-week highs 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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    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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • ‘It’s where all the real value-add is’: Why has this ASX rare earths share soared 79% in a month?

    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 Arafura Resources Limited (ASX: ARU) share price has taken off in the past month.

    This ASX rare earths share has rocketed 79% since market close on 28 February. In today’s trade alone, the company’s shares are soaring more than 15% higher at the time of writing.

    Let’s take a look at why Arafura is having such a good month.

    Rare earth deposit

    The Arafura Resources share price has stormed ahead since receiving a $30 million grant from the federal government. The funding will go towards a $90.8 million rare earth separation plant at the company’s Nolans project near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Arafura’s shares have surged 65% since the announcement on March 16.

    Arafura Resources believes it can provide 5% of the world’s rare earths, the ABC reported recently. Managing director Gavin Lockyer sees the separation plant as pivotal for the industry. He told the ABC:

    It’s where all the real value-add is done to our product. If you don’t build a separation plant, then that product will have to go offshore – namely China – for downstream processing.

    In announcing funding for the project, the federal government described the plant as “the first of its kind rare earth separation plant in Australia and only the second outside China”. In a statement signed off by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Energy Minister Angus Taylor, the government said:

    The $90.8 million project, located in the Northern Territory, will leverage Australia’s mineral processing expertise to develop rare earth separation technology not currently available here now, creating 650 jobs at the peak of construction and new high-value export opportunities.

    Electric vehicle demand

    The Arafura share price may also be lifting amid growing consumer sentiment towards electric vehicles (EVs). Rare earths are critical in the manufacture of EVs. As my foolish colleague James noted recently, there is optimism higher oil prices will accelerate the shift to electric vehicles. The crude oil share price has surged 10.28% in a month, Trading Economics data reveals.

    In other news, Arafura was added to the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) in March.

    Arafura Resources share price snapshot

    The Arafura Resources share price has surged 84% in the past year, while it has soared 62% year to date.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) index has returned about 9% over the past year.

    The company has a market capitalisation of about $527 million based on the current share price.

    The post ‘It’s where all the real value-add is’: Why has this ASX rare earths share soared 79% in a month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Arafura Resources right now?

    Before you consider Arafura Resources, 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 Arafura Resources 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

    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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why is the Cochlear (ASX:COH) share price sliding today?

    older woman tries to listen by cupping earolder woman tries to listen by cupping ear

    The Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) share price is backtracking on Monday as it trades ex-dividend.

    At the time of writing, Cochlear shares are swapping hands for $218.05, down 2.16%.

    Below we take a closer look at Cochlear’s latest dividend and when shareholders can expect payment.

    Shareholders set eyes on Cochlear interim dividend

    Following the company’s half year results, investors are eyeing Cochlear shares as they go ex-dividend today.

    Typically, one business day before the record date, the ex-dividend date is when investors must have purchased shares. If the investor does not buy Cochlear shares before this date, the dividend will go to the seller.

    Historically, when a company reaches its ex-dividend day, its shares tend to fall in proportion to the dividend paid out. This is because investors tend to sell off the company’s shares after securing the dividend.

    When can shareholders expect to be paid?

    For those eligible for Cochlear’s interim dividend, shareholders will receive a payment of $1.55 per share on 21 April. Unfortunately, the dividend is unfranked which means investors will miss out on the imputed tax credits.

    The latest interim dividend reflects a 35% lift from the $1.15 declared in the prior comparable period.

    The payout ratio is 65% of the company’s underlying net profit.

    Cochlear share price summary

    Since the beginning of 2022, Cochlear shares are around 2% higher in the green.

    Cochlear shares reached a 52-week low of $178.55 in January, before surging higher over the following weeks.

    Based on today’s price, Cochlear commands a market capitalisation of roughly $14.29 billion and has a trailing dividend yield of 1.17%.

    The post Why is the Cochlear (ASX:COH) share price sliding today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Cochlear, 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 Cochlear 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 Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why Evolution, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, St Barbara, and Zip shares are falling

    In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on form again and charging higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.4% to 7,438 points.

    Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

    Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

    The Evolution share price is down 3% to $4.40. Investors have been selling this gold miner’s shares after it was the subject of a bearish broker note out of UBS. According to the note, the broker has downgraded Evolution’s shares to a sell rating with a $4.23 price target.

    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (ASX: FPH)

    The Fisher & Paykel Healthcare share price has continued its slide and is down a further 4% to $21.90. Investors have been selling this medical device company’s shares since the release of a trading update last week. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare advised that it expects FY 2022 operating revenue in the range of NZ$1.675 billion to NZ$1.70 billion. This represents a 13.7% to 15% year on year decline from NZ$1.97 billion in FY 2021. Management also warned that higher freight costs would impact margins.

    St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

    The St Barbara share price is down 3.5% to $1.46. This morning the gold miner revealed the impact of COVID-19 disruptions at its Simberi operation. According to the release, Simberi is now forecast to produce between 25-30koz at an all-in sustaining cost (ASIC) of $3,200-$3,600 per ounce in FY 2022. As a result, total FY 2022 production is expected to come to 275-290koz and AISC of $1,750-1,870 per ounce. This compares to its original (previously withdrawn) guidance of 305-355koz with an ASIC of $1,710 to $1,860 per ounce.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

    The Zip share price is down almost 4% to $1.46. Investors have been selling Zip and other tech shares on Monday following a poor night of trade on the Nasdaq index on Friday. In addition, futures contracts are pointing to another decline for the tech-focused index tonight. The S&P ASX All Technology index is down 2.2% at the time of writing.

    The post Why Evolution, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, St Barbara, and Zip shares are falling 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. owns and has recommended ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • 3 differences between you and billionaires, and 1 thing you have in common

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

    Millionaire and Wealthy man with money raining down, cheap stocks

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

    There are about 724 billionaires in the U.S., according to Forbes, and more than 2,700 globally. They come from various backgrounds and made their fortunes in various ways. But when you look at their attitudes and behaviors as a whole, there are some traits many of them have in common.

    While few of us will ever become billionaires, it may be helpful to know what some of those common traits are to prepare for our own journey to success and financial independence. Here are three key things that billionaires do that many of us don’t, in the words of the billionaires themselves.

    1. They’re frugal

    “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving,” Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Warren Buffett once said. This quote encapsulates a mindset that helped Buffett become one of the world’s richest men. You’ve heard the stories — Buffett eats at McDonald’s, lives in the same house he bought in Omaha in 1958 for $31,500, buys used cars, and used a cheap flip phone until a couple of years ago.

    But these are habits that allowed him to save more and invest more, which drove his wealth. He’s not alone among frugal billionaires. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who admitted a few years ago to wearing a $10 watch, said his frugal habits were ingrained in him as a young man. “My 20-year-old self is so disgusted with my current self. You know, I was sure I would never fly anything but coach and you know, now I have a plane,” Gates said a couple of years ago, reflecting upon the frugality that made him what he is today.

    And Jeff Bezos, founder, former CEO, and executive chair at Amazon, said frugality, for him, was the mother of innovation. “I think frugality drives innovation, just like other constraints do. One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out.”

    2. They think big

    “Life can be so much broader, once you discover one simple fact, and that is that everything around you that you call ‘life’ was made up by people who were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again,” said the late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple.

    Jobs lived this, changing the world with his innovations at Apple. Now, this doesn’t mean we have to go out and invent the next world-changing technology, but experts say that most billionaires think big and aren’t deterred in their endeavors by perceived constraints, whether that’s their education level or something else. Obviously, a lot of hard work and strategic thinking goes into being successful in any venture, but it all starts with having that positive mindset and thinking big, as Jobs described.

    Or, as Henry Ford, founder of automaker Ford once said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”

    3. They’re not afraid to fail

    “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail,” said Sara Blakely, founder of hosiery and women’s underwear brand Spanx, who, in 2012, became the world’s youngest, self-made female billionaire.

    This philosophy, ingrained in her at a young age, constantly pushed her out of her comfort zone to take on new challenges and risks. Many people avoid actions or activities for fear of failure, but Blakely said that not being afraid to “fail” allowed her the freedom to constantly try new things until she hit on that billion-dollar idea. It helped her avoid the true failure of not trying.

    One thing you have in common with billionaires

    These are just a few common traits but, certainly, much more goes into becoming wealthy and successful. But it’s really not about becoming a billionaire — it’s about being successful in however you define success. Many billionaires say they weren’t motivated by money, but rather it was an outgrowth of their passion and purpose.

    As for the one thing we all have in common, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, among other ventures, said it best: “One thing is certain in business, you and everyone around you will make mistakes.” But it is from those mistakes, whether it is in business or investing, that you learn, adapt, and create new opportunities for success.

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

    The post 3 differences between you and billionaires, and 1 thing you have in common 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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    John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Dave Kovaleski owns Ford. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends 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 has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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



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  • Despite the COVID crash, here’s what $10,000 invested in Webjet (ASX:WEB) shares 10 years ago would be worth now

    A little boy opens his mouth wide, excited about taking a plane trip.A little boy opens his mouth wide, excited about taking a plane trip.

    The Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price has flown in circles over the last decade.

    Before 2020, the online travel agent’s shares had a healthy upward trajectory. However, the emergence of COVID-19 put the world at a standstill, with restrictions placed on both domestic and international travel.

    This severely impacted Webjet’s operations, sending the business into deep hibernation mode.

    Visibility around travel remained unclear for two years. However, things have finally started to take a turn.

    Below, we take a look at the power of long-term investing. We will calculate how much you would have made if you invested $10,000 in Webjet shares a decade ago.

    What if you had invested $10,000 in Webjet shares 10 years ago?

    If you had invested $10,000 in Webjet shares in 2012, you would have bought them for $2.18 a pop. This would have given you approximately 4,587 shares, without topping up during the downward periods.

    Fast-forward to today and the current Webjet share price is $5.58. This means that those 4,587 shares would be worth $25,595.46. When looking at percentage terms, this implies a gain of around 155%.

    While this is a solid return, let’s not forget that Webjet shares have experienced some severe turbulence en route.

    In 2020, the company’s share price plunged from around the $13 mark in February to a multi-year low of $2.25 by April. This represents a massive 82% fall in value over just a few weeks.

    Nonetheless, if you were brave enough to hold tight, Webjet has slowly been on the mend in the past two years.

    What about the dividends?

    Webjet has made 17 dividend payments to shareholders from 2012 to 2022.

    Adding those 17 dividends payments gives us an amount of $1.36 per share. Calculating the number of shares owned against the total dividend payment gives us a figure of $6,238.32.

    When putting both the initial investment gains and dividend distribution, an investor would have roughly $31,833.78, or a $21,833.78 profit.

    In comparison, investing the same amount in the ASX 200 would have netted you a total of $17,125.35. Minus the $10,000 that was parked, this gives you a $7,125.35 profit.

    As you can see, investing in Webjet would have more than tripled what you would have gotten from investing in the benchmark index.

    The post Despite the COVID crash, here’s what $10,000 invested in Webjet (ASX:WEB) shares 10 years ago would be worth now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Webjet, 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 Webjet 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 recommended Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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