• Why this top broker says the Medibank (ASX:MPL) share price will hit new, all-time highs in 2022

    a doctor in a white coat makes a heart shape with his hands and holds it over his chest where his heart is placed.

    The Medibank Private Limited (ASX: MPL) share price could hit a new, all-time high in 2022 according to a leading broker.

    Medibank is the largest private health provider in Australia with its Medibank and ahm brands.

    What broker has high expectations for the Medibank share price?

    Credit Suisse currently rates Medibank as a buy with a price target of $3.70. That implies the Medibank shares could rise by close to 10% over the next year, if the broker is right.

    If the Medibank share price did indeed reach $3.70 in 2022, then that would be a new all-time high for the business.

    Credit Suisse notes that Medibank continues to grow its total number of policyholders, which is helping it increase its market share.

    The broker referenced Medibank’s latest update at its annual general meeting (AGM) when coming up with its recent thoughts for the business.

    AGM update

    Medibank is committed to returning any permanent net claims savings due to COVID back to customers and it expects to confirm the next segment of customer support before the end of the year.

    Management said that its strong policyholder growth has continued with the addition of around 21,000 policyholders in the first four months of this financial year.

    Due to that above growth, and the assumption that industry participation growth will be slower in FY22 relative to FY21, it’s now aiming to grow by at least 3% in FY22, including growth in the Medibank brand.

    On an underlying basis, Medibank is expecting average net claims per policy to be in line with the second half of FY21, or 2.4% among resident policyholders.

    Medibank also highlighted that it’s transforming into a health company, with preventative health and new models of care enabling the business to provide people with even more support to manage their health and wellbeing.

    The digital offering is a key part of Medibank’s plan to support day to day engagement with customers, allowing for a more personalised and connected health experience.

    Medibank share price valuation

    Based on the broker Credit Suisse’s profit projections for FY22, the Medibank share price is valued at 21x FY22’s estimated earnings with a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.4%.

    The post Why this top broker says the Medibank (ASX:MPL) share price will hit new, all-time highs in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Medibank, 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 Medibank wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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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  • Analysts say buy these ASX dividend shares

    a man sits on his sofa loong at his phone and raises a fist to the air in happy celebration.

    Are you looking for dividend shares to buy? If you are, then you might want to look at the shares listed below.

    Here’s why these ASX dividend shares could be worth considering right now:

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

    The first ASX dividend share to look at is Accent. It is the retailer behind a growing network of footwear focused brands including The Athlete’s Foot, Platypus, Stylerunner, and HypeDC to name a few.

    Accent could be a good option for income investors due to its track record of growing its earnings and dividends at a consistently solid rate for many years, as well as its very positive long term outlook. The latter is being underpinned by the popularity of its stores, its exclusive licensing agreements, and its expansion opportunities.

    Bell Potter is a big fan of Accent. It currently has a buy rating and $3.05 price target on its shares.

    As for dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 9.1 cents in FY 2022 and then 13.5 cents in FY 2023. Based on the latest Accent share price of $2.32, this represents yields of 3.9% and 5.8%, respectively.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Another ASX dividend share for income investors to look at is Transurban.

    It is one of the world’s leading toll road operators which owns a portfolio of key roads in Australia and North America. In addition, the company has a pipeline of development projects that should support its growth over the next decade.

    Morgans is positive on Transurban. This is due to its shares providing investors with exposure to trends such as regional population growth, employment growth, and urbanisation. The broker currently has an add rating and $14.79 price target on the company’s shares.

    In respect to dividends, Morgans expects dividends per share of 39 cents in FY 2022 and then 57 cents in FY 2023. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.63, this will mean yields of 2.9% and 4.2%, respectively.

    The post Analysts say buy these ASX dividend shares 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

    Smiling man with phone in wheelchair watching stocks and trends on computer

    On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week on a subdued note. The benchmark index fell 0.15% to 7,292.2 points.

    Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to edge lower

    The Australian share market looks set for another subdued day on Tuesday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 10 points or 0.15% lower this morning. This is a decent result considering the poor start to the week on Wall Street. In late trade the Dow Jones is down 1.5%, the S&P 500 is down 1.45%, and the Nasdaq is 1.6% lower.

    Nine secures NRL rights

    The Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) share price will be one to watch on Tuesday after it confirmed an agreement for NRL broadcast rights for the 2023 to 2027 seasons. Under this agreement, the live broadcast of NRL matches on Free-To-Air TV will be broadly in line with the current contract, albeit with an extra three matches, due to the expansion of the league. Nine is paying an average of $115 million per annum, which is in line with the prior agreement.

    Oil prices fall

    Energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a difficult day after oil prices tumbled again. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 3.6% to US$68.26 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 3% to US$71.31 a barrel. Oil prices fell amid concerns over demand because of the spread of Omicron.

    Gold price falls

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a difficult day after the gold price dropped. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.7% to US$1,792.40 an ounce. The precious metal fell despite Wall Street tumbling overnight.

    Westpac dividends

    Today is payday for the shareholders of Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving the banking giant’s final dividend of FY 2021. Last month Australia’s oldest bank declared a fully franked final dividend of 60 cents per share. This equates to a 2.9% yield based on the current Westpac share price.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Westpac Banking Corporation. 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 Westpac Banking Corporation. 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 did the DevEx Resources share price plunge 10% today

    A sad BHP miner holds his head in his hands

    The DevEx Resources Ltd (ASX: DEV) share price had a tough day today despite no news from the company.

    In fact, the company hasn’t released any price-sensitive announcements to the market for more than a month.

    Yet the DevEx share price finished well in the red today, down 10.19% to 48.5 cents.

    Let’s take a look at what might have weighed on the company’s shares today.

    DevEx share price drops on Monday

    DevEx is a mining exploration company digging for gold, copper, uranium, and other metals. The company’s major focus is its copper and gold discoveries in the Lachlan Fold Belt region of New South Wales. It also has interests in nickel-copper-PGE exploration in Julimar, Western Australia.

    One clue as to the performance of the company’s share price today may lie in the broader performance of gold.

    The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold (ASX: XGD) index dropped 8.7% by market close today. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials (ASX: XMJ) index finished 0.13% higher.

    DevEx’s last price-sensitive announcement to the market was back on 10 November. It was an update on the completion of two diamond drill holes at the Sovereign Nickel-Copper-PGE Project in Western Australia.

    As the Motley Fool reported at the time, the discovery was well received by investors and led to them snapping up DevEx shares.

    Since that time, the directors of the company have been involved in several share transactions.

    According to company notices, most of the transactions carried out since 10 November were as a result of the exercise of options. However, two buy transactions by company chair Tim Goyder, worth a total of around $335,000, were on-market trades.

    In total between 10 and 18 November, the company’s directors purchased more than $1.1 million worth of DevEx shares. Potentially, outside investors saw this as a vote of confidence in the company.

    The only other news since then was the chairman’s address and AGM presentation on November 24.

    Overall, the company reported a positive year including an increase in market capitalisation and positive developments on several exploration projects.

    DevEx share price recap

    Despite today’s plunge, the DevEx share price has rocketed 136% in the past 12 months and 111% year to date.

    However, during the past month, the company’s shares have dropped by nearly 13% and 10% in the past week.

    DevEx has a market capitalisation of nearly $152 million based on its current share price.

    The post Why did the DevEx Resources share price plunge 10% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider DevEx , 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 DevEx wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why analysts love these ASX 200 blue chip shares

    A businessman lights up the fifth star in a lineup, indicating positive share price for a top performer

    If you’re interested in bolstering your portfolio with some blue chip ASX 200 shares, then you may want to consider the ones listed below.

    Here’s what analysts are saying about these top blue chip shares:

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    ResMed could be an ASX 200 blue chip share to buy. It is a medical device company which has a focus on sleep treatment solutions.

    Over the last decade the company’s revenue and earnings have grown at a very strong rate thanks to the quality of its products and its large and growing market opportunity. Pleasingly, due to its massive market opportunity in sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and home healthcare, ResMed looks well-placed to continue its growth long into the future.

    Morgans is a fan of the company. It recently commented: “While we believe the next few quarters will likely be volatile, as COVID-related demand for ventilators continues to slow and core sleep apnoea volumes gradually lift, nothing changes our medium/longer term view that the company remains well-placed as it builds a unique, patient-centric, connected-care digital platform that addresses the main pinch points across the healthcare value chain.”

    The broker has an add rating and $40.80 price target on ResMed’s shares.

    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

    Another ASX 200 blue chip share to look at is Suncorp. It is one of Australia’s leading banking and insurance companies with a collection of popular brands. These include AAMI, Apia, Bingle, GIO, Shannons, Vero, and the eponymous Suncorp brand.

    The team at Citi is positive on Suncorp despite concerns that its near term performance could be subdued.

    Citi commented: “While we still see SUN as more of a medium term than shorter term story, our analysis suggests the current share price is a reasonable entry point even so. Largely to reflect lower impairment charges, we nudge up our FY22E EPS by 1% and retain our Buy call and A$12.80 TP.”

    Citi has a buy rating and $12.80 price target on the company’s shares.

    The post Why analysts love these ASX 200 blue chip shares 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ResMed Inc. 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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  • What is the outlook for the Lynas (ASX:LYC) share price in 2022?

    Female miner in hard hat and safety vest on laptop with mining drill in background.

    The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price has been a top 10 performer of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months. However, with the new year drawing closer investors are eyeing off what performance might look like for the year ahead.

    Despite the rare earths mining company anticipating significant demand growth for the magnetic commodity, analysts are divided over the upside potential for the Lynas share price in the coming year.

    Where could the Lynas share price be heading?

    Let’s first take a look at the buy-side for the Lynas share price. At the beginning of the month Barrenjoey mining equity analyst, Daniel Morgan initiated coverage on the rare earth mining company.

    According to the note, the Sydney-based broker has given the company an ‘overweight’ rating. Simultaneously, the broker labelled the Lynas share price with a target of $10.50.

    However, not all analysts share in Morgan’s positive sentiment for the commodity-driven business. Instead, David Franklyn of Argonaut and Tim Serjeant of Eley Griffiths have stuck with a ‘hold’ rating. In an interview with Livewire in November, the fund managers were more reserved towards the Lynas share price due to its valuation.

    Both agreed that the company’s Mount Weld mine is a strategic asset considering its position outside of China. However, neither Franklyn nor Serjeant could get past the fundamentals. At present, the company trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 50 times.

    In addition, Serjeant believes pricing is now towards the upper end for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), at around $100 per kilogram. From here, the fund manager sees little volume growth in the near term as ASX-listed Lynas goes through a capital heavy period.

    This capital intensity being referred to is likely with regards to the development of the rare earths processing facility in Kalgoorlie. The project has been pencilled out to involve $500 million of investment before becoming operational in July 2023.

    For those reasons, Franklyn and Serjeant are sticking with a hold rating.

    The post What is the outlook for the Lynas (ASX:LYC) share price in 2022? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lynas Rare Earths right now?

    Before you consider Lynas Rare Earths, 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 Lynas Rare Earths wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns Lynas 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 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 BHP (ASX:BHP) share price having such a lousy start to the week?

    a man in high visibility shirt and hard hat with full beard looks downcast with eyes lowered as though he is disappointed or sad.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is off to a disappointing start this week. This comes despite the company not making any new announcements to the ASX.

    At market close, the mining giant’s shares have slipped 0.72% on Monday to $41.10. But, regardless of the drop, the company’s shares have rebounded almost 13% in the past month.

    What’s dragging BHP shares lower?

    There are a couple of possible reasons as to why the BHP share price languished in negative territory today.

    First and foremost, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) spent most of the day in the red before rallying late in the day to close 0.13% up at 16,372.8 points. The sector represents 39 of the largest companies that specialise in mining, forestry products, and construction materials.

    It appears generally negative sentiment on the company’s home sector is weighing down the BHP share price.

    Fellow miner Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) also spent Monday well in the red before edging 0.24% in the green about twenty minutes before the close, finishing at $98.23 apiece.

    In addition, another catalyst that may be affecting the BHP share price is that investors are holding around 8% of the company’s shares in short positions.

    There’s belief that iron ore prices could give back their recent gains, which will put pressure on the company’s margins. This could potentially mean the world’s second-largest miner would miss its earnings targets set for FY22.

    Currently, the spot price for iron ore is US$111.64 per tonne. And while it’s recovered from the 52-week lows of US$91.98 last month, there’s still a long way to go.

    On a positive note, the company’s proposed acquisition of its petroleum business by Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) is on track. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) did not oppose the takeover.

    The competition regulator commented:

    We examined the proposed acquisition closely as it would combine two of the four largest domestic natural gas suppliers in Western Australia.

    We found that post acquisition, Woodside would continue to face competition from a range of suppliers of domestic gas, including major producers Chevron and Santos, and from several other smaller suppliers including Shell and ExxonMobil. Woodside’s share of domestic gas after the acquisition will be approximately 20 per cent.

    What do the brokers think?

    A number of brokers updated their view on the BHP share price over the last week.

    Analysts at Macquarie raised their price target by 2% to $52.00 for BHP shares. Swiss investment firm UBS had a more bearish tone, reducing its outlook by 3% to $37.00. It’s worth noting that this is almost in line with the current share price.

    BHP share price summary

    Since the beginning of the year, it has been a substandard result for BHP shares, falling by almost 5%. This is a stark contrast from when its shares were tracking more than 25% higher for the year-to-date period during August.

    Based on today’s price, BHP presides a market capitalisation of roughly $121.2 billion and has approximately 2.95 billion shares outstanding.

    The post Why is the BHP (ASX:BHP) share price having such a lousy start to the week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BHP, 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 BHP wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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 Macquarie Group 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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  • Own ANZ (ASX:ANZ) shares? Here’s why the bank admits ‘we got it wrong’

    Group of stressful businesspeople having problems. sittong around a desk.

    The big four bank Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is in focus as management admitted that it got things wrong.

    ANZ is one of the biggest banks on the ASX. It is facing intense competition in the mortgage space from the likes of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM) and so on.

    There are three key parts for how much lending profit ANZ, or any bank, can make – the size of its loan book, the net interest margin (NIM) and the amount of bad debts (and provisions).

    But ANZ said to shareholders that it had dropped the ball in terms of lending recently.

    Problems with lending processing

    At the company’s annual general meeting (AGM), the ANZ CEO acknowledged in the big four bank’s FY21, it saw home loan revenue growth of more than 10% but the number of home loans on its books fell during the second half.

    It attributed this decline to two factors.

    First, customers were paying down loans faster.

    Second, the speed at which it was able to process an increasing number of applications “just wasn’t sufficient”.

    According to reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald ANZ chair Paul O’Sullivan said about its processing of mortgage applications:

    Let me be frank, we got it wrong. Although we expanded capacity, we didn’t expand capacity enough. And as a result, we lost market share to those who could process it.

    We have spent a lot of time at board and management understanding this issue. There has been significant work done to bring in new processes, new ways of handling things and to look externally at best practice, so we can learn from that and improve.

    Yes it’s been a disappointing performance, but there has been a lot of work done to get us back on track.

    ANZ said that it took urgent action to fix those processing issues by materially increasing its assessment capacity as well as simplifying and automating processes.

    Whilst it’s still early days and there is much to do, ANZ said it is seeing improvements in its processing times and a modest return to balance sheet growth.

    However, ANZ admitted that processing applications in a timely manner has resulted in a loss of market share. The board said it was confident that the systemic actions taken by management will address those issues.

    ANZ is expecting Australian home loan portfolio to return to growth in this half and for ANZ growth to be in line with the overall system growth in the second half of the current financial year.

    ANZ share price snapshot

    Whilst ANZ shares have risen 17% over the last year, it is actually down 3% over the past six months.

    The post Own ANZ (ASX:ANZ) shares? Here’s why the bank admits ‘we got it wrong’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider ANZ, 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 ANZ wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Macquarie Group 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    Computer key - Top 10 ASX today

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) decided to kick off the final week before the holiday season with a red day. At the end of the session, the benchmark index inched 0.16% lower to 7,292.2 points.

    While there were some tinges of green among the Aussie market today, it was weighed down by significant losses across the energy and financial sectors. Losses of 3% to 5% were witnessed in some of our oil and gas companies after oil prices fell 2% overnight on increased Omicron fears. In contrast, strong gains in the healthcare and consumer staples sectors prevented a deeper fall.

    However, the question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the top ten stocks that came through for investors:

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Bluescope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the steelmaking company rose 4.18% despite there being no new announcements. Find out more about Bluescope Steel here.

    The next biggest gaining ASX share today was Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA). The fuel retailing company experienced a 3.72% uptick in its share price after providing earnings guidance for FY 2021. Viva anticipates operating earnings to almost double compared to the previous year. Uncover the latest Viva Energy details here.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Bluescope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) $21.93 4.18%
    Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) $2.23 3.72%
    Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX: MCY) $5.85 3.54%
    Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CUV) $27.78 3.39%
    Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) $5.29 3.32%
    Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) $44.46 3.04%
    Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE) $2.75 3.00%
    Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) $5.10 2.82%
    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) $30.35 2.64%
    Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) $19.46 2.53%
    Data as at 4:00pm AEDT

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

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

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

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns Sonic Healthcare 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 recommended Sonic Healthcare 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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  • Cimic (ASX:CIM) share price recovers slightly on repayment pledge, closes 13% lower

    a man clasps his hand to his forehead as he looks down at his phone and grimaces with a pained expression on his face as though receiving bad news.

    The Cimic Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) share price had a dramatic start to the week, with its shares tumbling to end Monday’s session 13.37% lower.

    However, that’s better than its earlier performance. The company’s stock plunged 15% to $15.51 this morning before a pause in trading.

    The initial slide came amid reports the company owed former employees millions of dollars of wages, entitlements, and compensations after it sold its 45% stake in Middle-Eastern company BIC Contracting (BICC).

    Cimic’s shares began swapping hands again this afternoon after it provided a statement to rebut the claims.

    The response followed the ASX issuing the company with a ‘please explain’ over its tumble, which saw it hit a new 52-week low of $15.28 in intraday trade.

    As of today’s close, the Cimic share price is $15.88. For reference, it finished Friday’s session at $18.33.

    Let’s take a closer look at what went on with the construction, mining, and services company’s shares today.

    Cimic share price rebounds on $9.8 million pledge

    Cimic responded to a media report that it believes tanked its share price today. The company says it was never in charge of BICC, but will still help provide former workers with their owed funds. The company stated:

    BICC has never been and is not currently controlled by CIMIC. CIMIC, its co-shareholder and the acquirer continue to progress the completion of the sale and are working collaboratively through the remaining conditions precedent …

    However, the wellbeing of BICC people is important to CIMIC and we will continue to work with the acquirer to resolve this matter.

    According to the company, it is working with BICC’s purchaser SALD Investment to pay end of service entitlements to approximately 2,720 former employees.

    Cimic stated 1,900 have already received their entitlements. Meanwhile, 400 former employees have had their entitlements processed.

    Cimic is now working to provide the remaining 420 people with their owed money. Doing so will come at a cost of US$7 million ($9.85 million).

    Of the 420 people who haven’t yet been paid, 300 are based in Qatar.

    That’s important as the Qatari business is currently under curatorship. The curatorship is said to be impacting the speed at which people are receiving their payments.

    The 120 people not from Qatar are living in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Together, they have 60 settlements subject to dispute.

    According to Cimic, the $9.85 million it will spend to provide workers with their entitlements will be available to the acquirer as part of the sale process.

    As of Monday’s close, the Cimic share price is 38% lower than it was at the start of 2021. It has also fallen 15% since this time last month.

    The post Cimic (ASX:CIM) share price recovers slightly on repayment pledge, closes 13% lower appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Cimic, 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 Cimic wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 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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