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

    A man is deep in thought while looking at graph and rising and falling percentages.A man is deep in thought while looking at graph and rising and falling percentages.A man is deep in thought while looking at graph and rising and falling percentages.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is taking a tumble so far this Friday and looks to be ending the trading week on a low. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down by 0.8% at just under 7,100 points.

    But let’s dive deeper and have a look at the ASX 200 shares currently at the top of the share market’s volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume so far this Friday

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    Coal miner Whitehaven is our first share of the day this Friday. So far, a hefty 21.56 million of this ASX 200 company’s shares have found a new home. There haven’t been any official developments out of the company so far today. But the Whitehaven share price itself has had a rather wild trading session to end the week.

    Whitehaven shares are presently up 0.88% at $3.995. However, that follows the company going as high as $4.02 (a new 52-week high) and as low as $3.83 a share over the trading day thus far. It’s likely that it’s this volatility that has resulted in such elevated trading volume.

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Telstra is our next ASX 200 share to check out today. Thus far, a sizeable 22.14 million of this telco’s shares have been bought and sold on the markets.

    We see a similar situation to Whitehaven going on here. No major news or announcements, but stints in both positive and negative territory for Telstra shares. Minus the new 52-week high. Telstra is currently down by 0.13% at $3.90. Together with the company’s ongoing share buybacks, this is probably why Telstra has had so many of its shares bounce around the markets as it currently stands.

    Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

    Our final and most traded ASX 200 share of the day is currently uranium miner Paladin energy. This Friday has seen a shockingly high 134.36 million Paladin shares exchanged on the share market so far. We don’t have to look too far to see why this might be the case.

    As we reported earlier this afternoon, news of a fire at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine has seen many uranium shares on the ASX take a heavy beating. Paladin is currently down by 15.12% at the time of writing at 73 cents a share. But this company fell as much as 20% to 64 cents earlier today. It’s this dramatic sell-off that is almost certainly behind this massive trading volume.

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

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    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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  • Time is running out to secure the Bendigo Bank (ASX:BEN) dividend. Here’s why

    The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is climbing during the afternoon, clawing back from last week’s losses. This comes despite the regional bank not releasing any price-sensitive announcements to the ASX today.

    At the time of writing, Bendigo Bank shares are up 0.53% to $9.55 apiece.

    Bendigo Bank shares set to go ex-dividend

    While the company has been quiet on the news front, investors are buying up Bendigo Bank shares.

    This is a stark contrast to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has fallen 0.88% to 7,088.6 points.

    The likely catalyst as to why Bendigo Bank shares are pushing higher is because of the upcoming ex-dividend date.

    Investors need to buy Bendigo Bank shares before market close today to be eligible for the interim dividend. The ex-dividend date is on Monday 7 March.

    It’s worth noting though that 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.

    What does this mean for Bendigo Bank shareholders?

    For those who are eligible for the Bendigo Bank interim dividend, shareholders will receive a payment of 26.5 cents per share on 31 March. The dividend is also fully franked which means shareholders can expect to receive tax credits from this.

    Investors who elect for the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) will see a 1.5% discount applied to the volume-weighted average price. This will be based on the 7 trading days from 10 March to 18 March.

    While the details surrounding at what price the DRP will be offered are yet to be determined, the company is expected to make an announcement on this.

    The last election date for shareholders to opt-in to the DRP is 9 March.

    Bendigo Bank share price summary

    Since the beginning of 2022, the Bendigo Bank share price has gained 5% but is down almost 7% for the last 12 months.

    The company’s shares reached a 52-week low of $8.43 in December, before shooting higher in the following weeks.

    Based on today’s price, Bendigo Bank commands a market capitalisation of roughly $5.36 billion and has a trailing dividend yield of 5.71%.

    The post Time is running out to secure the Bendigo Bank (ASX:BEN) dividend. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bendigo and Adelaide Bank right now?

    Before you consider Bendigo and Adelaide Bank , 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 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank 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.

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  • Why is the Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) share price crashing 14% today?

    Young man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen watching the Paladin Energy share price tank todayYoung man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen watching the Paladin Energy share price tank todayYoung man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen watching the Paladin Energy share price tank today

    A message from our CIO, Scott Phillips:

    “G’day Fools. If you’re like us, you’re dismayed by the events taking place in Ukraine. It is an unnecessary humanitarian tragedy. Times like these remind us that money is important, but other things are far more valuable. And yet the financial markets remain open, shares are trading, and our readers and members are looking to us for guidance. So we’ll do our best to continue to serve you, while also hoping for a swift and peaceful end to war in Ukraine.”

    ————

    The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price has had a disappointing end to the trading week so far this Friday.

    At the time of writing, Paladin shares are down by 14.24% at 73.75 cents a share. However, that includes a strong intra-day recovery that we’ve seen this afternoon.

    At one point during the trading day, Paladin shares fell as low as 64 cents each, which was a drop of more than 20%. In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also down, but only by 0.86% at just under 7,100 points.

    So what’s going on with this ASX energy share today?

    What’s happening to the Paladin Energy share price?

    Well, it appears likely this drop is partially a consequence of the disturbing reports coming out of Ukraine today.

    As my Fool colleague Mitchell reported earlier today, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has come under shelling from Russian forces. As a result, the plant reportedly caught fire, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to warn of a possible “catastrophe”. Although, according to more recent reporting by the ABC, the US Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, has advised that the plant is “protected by robust containment structures and reactors are being safely shut down”.

    Paladin is an ASX 200 uranium miner. As such, it’s likely that such a serious incident at a nuclear plant has shaken confidence in the global nuclear power industry, of which Paladin is a part.

    Paladin isn’t the only ASX uranium share experiencing this kind of selling pressure today. We’ve also seen similar moves in the share prices of Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) and Peninsula Energy Ltd (ASX: PEN) over the course of the trading day.

    The post Why is the Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) share price crashing 14% 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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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  • Own Coles (ASX:COL) shares? The supermarket is taking to the skies – literally

    A drone flies against a city backdrop holding an Amazon delivery box, indicating a lift in share priceA drone flies against a city backdrop holding an Amazon delivery box, indicating a lift in share priceA drone flies against a city backdrop holding an Amazon delivery box, indicating a lift in share price

    Owners of Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares, rejoice – the company is taking on a venture that many once would have thought impossible.

    Coles will soon be offering home deliveries via drones. That will see most customers receiving their purchases within 10 minutes of ordering.

    At the time of writing, the Coles share price is $17.10, 0.8% higher than its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 0.8%.

    Let’s take a look at this week’s news from the supermarket giant.

    Taking flight: Coles to offer drone deliveries

    Owners of Coles shares can pat themselves on the back knowing they’re invested in the first major Australian supermarket to take to the skies.

    The supermarket has partnered with drone delivery provider, Wing, to offer the service in select suburbs in Canberra.

    Unfortunately, the drones won’t be able to deliver everything shoppers might opt to put in their trolleys in-store.

    But they will be flying items such as bread, fresh produce, snacks, convenience meals, health care items, kitchen essentials, and toilet paper direct to shoppers’ doors.

    Making the idea of a drone delivering the milk for your morning coffee more enticing; the service is free, and no minimum spend applies.

    Coles chief executive of eCommerce Ben Hassing said it will also help the supermarket’s sustainability ambitions by taking some delivery trucks off the road.

    To use the service, customers must download the Wing app and place their order through the drone delivery provider.

    Most Australians living in Crace, Palmerston, Franklin, Harrison, Mitchell, Giralan, and Kaleen will be able to use the space-age service.

    Coles share price snapshot

    Despite today’s gains, the Coles share price is still recording a year to date loss.

    Right now, its stock is trading for 4% less than it was at the start of 2022. Though, it is 11% higher than it was this time last year.

    The post Own Coles (ASX:COL) shares? The supermarket is taking to the skies – literally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Coles 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.

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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 owns and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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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  • ASX 200 dives to 4-day low following Ukraine nuclear power plant crisis

    A shocked and stressed man looking at his laptop and trying to absorb bad news about the Netwealth share price fallingA shocked and stressed man looking at his laptop and trying to absorb bad news about the Netwealth share price fallingA shocked and stressed man looking at his laptop and trying to absorb bad news about the Netwealth share price falling

    A message from our CIO, Scott Phillips:

    “G’day Fools. If you’re like us, you’re dismayed by the events taking place in Ukraine. It is an unnecessary humanitarian tragedy. Times like these remind us that money is important, but other things are far more valuable. And yet the financial markets remain open, shares are trading, and our readers and members are looking to us for guidance. So we’ll do our best to continue to serve you, while also hoping for a swift and peaceful end to war in Ukraine.”

    ———

    ASX 200 shares are taking a battering on reports that Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been set ablaze during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Fears of a nuclear disaster have rattled the Australian and global markets. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 0.75% to 7,098 points. At one point it sunk to 7,025 points — its lowest mark this month.

    The Ukrainian government said Russian troops are firing on its Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, reported the ABC.

    10 times worse than Chernobyl warning haunts ASX 200

    Part of the station is on fire, but Ukrainian firefighters are reportedly unable to put out the blaze as they are getting fired upon by the Russian invaders.

    If the plant was to go into a thermo-nuclear meltdown, Ukrainian authorities believe it will be 10 times worse than the Chernobyl disaster.

    It is not known if the six reactors in the Zaporizhzhia plant have been shut down. But if they have, the plant will require external power to keep the reactors cool to avoid a meltdown.

    This means the plant must rely on being connected to the grid or use diesel generators to power the cooling system.

    Given the fierce battle around the plant, it is unclear how close Zaporizhzhia could be to a nuclear disaster.

    Why the disaster will be everyone’s problem

    A meltdown will have a devastating impact not only on Ukraine but across Europe and possibly even further afield, as radioactive material could be carried into the sky.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had informed the leaders of the US, Britain, the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency about the threat of nuclear disaster.

    “If there is an explosion – that’s the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe,” he said, according to the Australian Financial Review.

    The prospect of a nuclear disaster is the last thing jittery ASX 200 investors need right now. Equities are already under stress from the threat of stagflation and the terrible floods in Queensland and New South Wales.

    Stagflation refers to a period where inflation is high while economic growth slows. The war in Ukraine is only adding to inflationary pressure as it sent commodities like oil shooting higher.

    ASX 200 provides little shelter

    There are few places in the ASX 200 to hide today. Not even a big jump in the iron ore price has been able to save the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price from falling.

    Just about every sector is in the red apart from consumer staples. Disaster or not, people have to eat. The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price jumped 1.7% while the Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price gained 0.8%.

    ASX gold miners are also offering some respite. The Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) share price, up 3.1%, and the Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price, up 1.44%, are outperforming the ASX 200 at the time of writing.

    The post ASX 200 dives to 4-day low following Ukraine nuclear power plant crisis 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns BHP Billiton Limited, Newcrest Mining Limited, and Rio Tinto Ltd. 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 COLESGROUP DEF SET. 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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  • Broker tips 60% upside for the Chalice Mining (ASX:CHN) share price

    A man wearing a shirt, tie and hard hat sits in an office and marks dates in his diary.

    A man wearing a shirt, tie and hard hat sits in an office and marks dates in his diary.A man wearing a shirt, tie and hard hat sits in an office and marks dates in his diary.

    The Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN) share price is falling with the market on Friday.

    In afternoon trade, the mineral exploration company’s shares are down 3% to $7.47.

    Is the Chalice Mining share price in the buy zone?

    One leading broker that is likely to see the weakness in the Chalice Mining share price as a buying opportunity is Bell Potter.

    According to a note this morning, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating with a slightly trimmed price target of $12.02.

    Based on the current Chalice Mining share price, this implies potential upside of just over 60% for investors over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Bell Potter notes that the company has released drilling results from the Gonneville deposit this week, which point to further resource growth. It also highlights that the company has commenced “the first-ever exploration drill program within the Julimar State Forest.”

    Based on recent results, it believes this could underpin potential positive exploration news flow.

    Outside this, Bell Potter is very positive on the world-class Julimar project in Western Australia. And it isn’t hard to see why. Last year drilling results at Julimar revealed the largest nickel sulphide discovery in over 20 years and the largest platinum-group elements (PGE) discovery in Australian history.

    The broker commented: “CHN’s 100%-owned Julimar project has emerged as a globally significant PGE-Ni-Cu deposit. Located 70km north of Perth in WA, it represents a unique opportunity to establish a new, strategic PGE and base metals supply in a top mining jurisdiction. The demonstrated Resource growth potential and the commencement of regional exploration programs signal potential positive newsflow on ongoing exploration success. We make no material changes to our risk-adjusted NPV-based valuation for CHN on this update. We retain our Speculative Buy recommendation and valuation of $12.02/sh.”

    The post Broker tips 60% upside for the Chalice Mining (ASX:CHN) share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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 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 this ASX gold mining share just leapt 20%

    Man in mining hat with fists raised and eyes closed looking happy and excited about some newsMan in mining hat with fists raised and eyes closed looking happy and excited about some newsMan in mining hat with fists raised and eyes closed looking happy and excited about some news

    While the All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) is in reverse today, the Kingsgate Consolidated Limited (ASX: KCN) share price has accelerated.

    This comes after the company provided an update regarding the restart of its Chatree Gold Mine before midday trade.

    At the time of writing, the gold miner’s shares are up 20% to $1.41 apiece.

    In comparison, the All Ords is currently down 1.25% to 7,353.5 points.

    Let’s take a look at what the company announced to the ASX today.

    Kingsgate secures funding for Chatree Gold Mine

    In its statement, Kingsgate advised it has secured a US$15 million (A$20 million) bridge facility from Taurus Mining Finance Fund.

    With funding approved, Kingsgate will swing its plan in action to support the refurbishment and restart the Chatree Gold Mine.

    In particular, the bridge facility will be used for the following:

    • General working capital for the Kingsgate Group
    • Costs associated with the recommissioning of the Chatree Project such as long lead items, and the recruitment of technical site personnel
    • Chatree regional exploration programs

    Kingsgate stated that it anticipates the first tranche of funds will be available for drawdown in April. This is, however, subject to the completion of certain conditions including final due diligence from the lender.

    Under the terms of the agreement, the bridge facility must be repaid within 12 months of refinancing. The agreed interest rate is set at 9% per annum.

    In addition, to ensure adequate funding, Kingsgate is currently negotiating a project facility of US$30 million (A$41 million) with the lender.

    These funds will be allocated towards a number of items. This includes:

    • Capital expenditures for the development and recommissioning of the project
    • Fees, costs, expenses and capitalised interest due under the bridge facility or project facility
    • Working capital
    • Repayment of the bridge facility

    Furthermore, a scoping study has been prepared by an international engineering firm that focuses on bringing plant #2 online.

    Estimates from the study indicate that plant #2 could be operating within four to six months from commencement of refurbishment. This means that the first gold pour could be achieved before the end of this calendar year.

    Kingsgate executive chair, Ross Smyth-Kirk commented:

    Attaining this finance will enable the company to immediately start moving towards the restart of the Chatree Gold Mine as approved by the Thai Government, and it has been achieved without diluting shareholders.

    Kingsgate share price snapshot

    Since this time last year, the Kingsgate share price has rocketed by almost 50%. However, the same cannot be said for the year to date, with its shares down 30% so far.

    Based on today’s price, Kingsgate presides a market capitalisation of about $297.68 million and has approximately 221.32 million shares outstanding.

    The post Why this ASX gold mining share just leapt 20% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Kingsgate, 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 Kingsgate 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why is the Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) share price crashing 17% today?

    A man in a business suit wearing boxing gloves slumps in the corner of a boxing ring.A man in a business suit wearing boxing gloves slumps in the corner of a boxing ring.A man in a business suit wearing boxing gloves slumps in the corner of a boxing ring.

    Shares in Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) are in the red on Friday, falling more than 17% to a low of $2.16 around noon today.

    At the time of writing, the Boss Energy share price is down 13.7% trading at $2.33, the drop coming despite no market-sensitive information out of the company’s camp today.

    However, we note that during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a fire has broken out at Europe’s largest nuclear power station, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

    What in the world is happening?

    It appears that much of the calamity in global energy markets right now is stemming from reports the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is ablaze in Ukraine.

    Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba posted that the plant was on fire after shelling in the early hours of Friday morning European time, according to CNN live updates.

    The nuclear plant is the biggest in Europe and among the largest in the world, supplying almost 30,000 Gw net annually.

    A meltdown at the site has the potential to rock global energy markets – notwithstanding the environmental impacts – and has sent markets into turmoil today.

    At the time of writing, the nuclear energy index is down less than 1%, whereas renewable indices for wind energy and solar energy are down more than 2% and 1% respectively.

    Uranium is also flat today at US$51.6 per pound after charging from US$43/lbs in early February while key players in the ASX energy space suffer heavy losses today.

    As such the S&P/ASX 200 Energy index (ASX: XEJ) is also faltering 2% to 9,607.6 points today amid the potential energy crisis that could surmount should the plant go under.

    The Boss Energy share price closely tracks the ASX energy benchmark and even over-reaches the benchmark return/loss on most occasions (shown below), as in today’s case.

    TradingView Chart

    Prior to today’s trimming, the Boss Energy share price had climbed 37% in a week, backed by strong uranium prices and surging prices on oil contracts.

    Boss Energy share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, the Boss Energy share price has surged more than 108% and is flying into the green this year to date.

    During the past month of trading, shares have gained a further 15%, after galloping more than 24% higher this week.

    The post Why is the Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) share price crashing 17% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    *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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • ASX uranium shares plummet amid Ukraine power station attack

    A worker with a clipboard stands in front of a nuclear energy facilityA worker with a clipboard stands in front of a nuclear energy facilityA worker with a clipboard stands in front of a nuclear energy facility

    A message from our CIO, Scott Phillips:

    “G’day Fools. If you’re like us, you’re dismayed by the events taking place in Ukraine. It is an unnecessary humanitarian tragedy. Times like these remind us that money is important, but other things are far more valuable. And yet the financial markets remain open, shares are trading, and our readers and members are looking to us for guidance. So we’ll do our best to continue to serve you, while also hoping for a swift and peaceful end to war in Ukraine.”

    ———— 

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is suffering a red session on Friday amid an intensification of the situation in Ukraine. However, ASX uranium shares are showing up as some of the hardest-hit companies of all on the Australian share market.

    At present, many uranium producers and explorers are trading 10% to 20% lower. This follows reports that one of Ukraine’s nuclear power stations — the largest in Europe — is on fire as a consequence of Russian attacks.

    The shocking shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) marks eight days since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    What is going on with ASX uranium shares today?

    It was only a few short months ago when we were reminiscing on the outstanding performances across ASX uranium shares in 2021.

    At that time, uranium was beginning to step back into the spotlight as an answer to our climate changes woes. Though, with years of unattractive prices for the commodity, investments in creating new a new supply had been dampened.

    However, with expectations of nuclear energy becoming a piece in the green transition puzzle, investors were willing to take a punt on ASX uranium shares.

    That was until the latest development in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Unfortunately, with fears of the Zaporizhzhia NPP evolving into another Chernobyl-like disaster, it seems people have been reminded of what soured nuclear energy’s momentum all those years ago.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    While the power plant boasts better safety infrastructure than Chernobyl, the consequences of a fault could also be larger. According to Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, “If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl.”, he said in a Tweet calling for a ceasefire.

    Companies copping the brunt of bad news

    Currently, ASX uranium shares are being sold off hard. Here’s how some of these companies are tracking:

    Finally, the situation in Zaporizhzhia NPP is still evolving as more information transpires. The latest updates suggest firefighters have been unable to combat the fire due to the ongoing conflict.

    The post ASX uranium shares plummet amid Ukraine power station attack 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 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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  • ASX tech shares take a hammering on Friday

    Young man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen in anticipation.Young man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen in anticipation.Young man in shirt and tie staring at his laptop screen in anticipation.

    Friday is proving to be a rough day for ASX tech shares, with some of the sector’s most recognisable participants among its worst performers.

    At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has slumped 3% while the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen 3.95%.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also in the red, having slipped 0.82%. The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is slightly worse off, slumping 0.92%.

    Let’s take a look at which ASX tech shares are suffering and what might be weighing on the sector.

    What’s dragging ASX tech shares lower today?

    Shares in some of the market’s favourite tech shares are plummeting on Friday for no obvious reason.

    The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price is being pummelled. It’s currently falling 12.3% to trade at $1.64 – its lowest point in nearly 2 years.

    The Block Inc CDI (ASX: SQ2) share price is also struggling today. It’s currently down 9.52% to $152.46.

    Meanwhile, shares in EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML), Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR), and Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) are down 6.3%, 5%, and 4% respectively.

    The ASX tech sector’s suffering might be being driven by similar struggles in the US market overnight. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ: .IXIC) slumped 1.6% on Thursday.

    Block’s New York-based listing (Block Inc (NYSE: SQ)) also tumbled 8.1% while most of Australia slept.

    The post ASX tech shares take a hammering on Friday 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 Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Block, Inc., EML Payments, Tyro Payments, and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Block, Inc. and EML Payments. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Tyro Payments. 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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