• Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    Computer key - Top 10 ASX today

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) capped off the week with a red day. At the end of the session, the benchmark index finished 0.42% lower at 7,353.5 points. Despite today’s fall, the Australian share market ended up higher than its starting position at the beginning of the week.

    It was a mixed day on a sector-by-sector basis, with healthcare and energy shares being the main anchors on the market. Oil and gas companies struggled through the day following a weakening in oil prices overnight. In contrast, utilities, communication services, and consumer discretionary shares provided some uplifting notes in the market today.

    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, Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the mineral sands producer surged 7.29% after a bullish broker note from Macquarie. Find out more about Iluka Resources here.

    The next biggest gaining ASX share today was Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR). The lithium developer gained 6.84% today despite there being no new price-sensitive announcements from the company. Uncover the latest Liontown Resources details here.

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

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) $9.42 7.29%
    Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) $1.64 6.84%
    NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF) $7.10 4.87%
    Ebos Group Ltd (ASX: EBO) $36.31 4.64%
    Home Consortium (ASX: HMC) $7.99 4.31%
    Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX: PBH) $7.82 3.85%
    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) $2.60 3.59%
    Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) $7.90 3.40%
    Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) $53.08 2.91%
    Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) $4.31 2.38%
    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

    More reading

    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. owns and has recommended Pointsbet Holdings Ltd and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended NIB Holdings Limited and Pointsbet Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/31QEWpq

  • How much cash does Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) have and where might it be looking to deploy it?

    boy giving thumbs up to $100 notes

    It’s highly unlikely that many Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shareholders would lose sleep at night over the company’s balance sheet.

    The 107-year-old blue-chip business has maintained a decent stash of cash for many years. In addition, the amount of debt carried by the Australian conglomerate has been trending downwards since 2016.

    However, with a potential bidding war looming with Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API), now might be a good time to get familiar with the company’s available cash.

    How much cash does ASX-listed Wesfarmers have?

    There are many factors that influence the trajectory of a company’s share price over the long term. One variable of the equation can be the condition of a company’s balance sheet.

    Ideally, there is enough spare cash sitting on the sidelines to protect the business from black swan events. However, another important use of spare capital is for providing increased shareholder returns. Sometimes this simply means dividends, while other times it can be strategic acquisitions.

    In the case of Wesfarmers, the ASX-listed diversified business reported a total of $3.023 billion of cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2021. These sidelined dollars have come in handy recently, with Wesfarmers throwing down a $763 million offer for pharmacy chain operator API.

    Though, now Woolworths has entered the race with a bigger bid of $873 million. In turn, pundits are expecting that a bidding war might ensue. So, which company is better equipped financially? It turns out that Wesfarmers has about $2 billion more cash than Woolworths as of 30 June 2021.

    What else could the cash go towards?

    As my Foolish colleague Tristan covered last month, Wesfarmers is looking to increase the digitisation of Bunnings. Specifically, the company plans to grow its e-commerce operations, invest in new systems, and install a new analytics platform.

    Additionally, Wesfarmers has been built on opportunistic mergers and acquisitions over the years. Thanks to a diligent management team, the company has grown to a market capitalisation of over $60 billion. If shareholders are going to continue to be rewarded with growth, the company could put this excess cash towards future appealing acquisitions.

    Finally, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has been no match for Wesfarmers on the ASX in 2021. The company’s share price has risen by 16.2%, compared to the benchmark’s 10%.

    The post How much cash does Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) have and where might it be looking to deploy it? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Wesfarmers, 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 Wesfarmers 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

    More reading

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

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3pLcnSA

  • 3 hot ASX tech shares to buy in 2022

    a woman on a green background points a finger at graphic images of molecules, a rocket, light bulbs and scientific symbols as she smiles.

    Luckily for investors, the tech sector is filled with companies with strong growth potential.

    But which ones are in the buy zone right now? Three that are highly rated by analysts right now are listed below:

    Adore Beauty Group Limited (ASX: ABY)

    The first ASX tech share to look at is Adore Beauty. It is a leading online retailer in the $11.2 billion Australian beauty and personal care market. Adore Beauty currently has almost 1 million active customers using its platform. From these customers, it generated revenue of $63.8 million during the first quarter. Even annualised, this implies only a modest market share at present, which gives it plenty of room to grow in the future. UBS is a fan of the company and currently has a buy rating and $6.00 price target on its shares.

    Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG)

    Another ASX tech share to consider is Hipages. It is a leading Australian-based online platform and software as a service (SaaS) provider connecting consumers with trusted tradies. It has also just announced the proposed acquisition of New Zealand-based Builderscrack for A$11.8 million. It is a leading online tradie marketplace with 4,000 active tradies and 200,000 registered homeowners across the NZ$26 billion total addressable market. Goldman Sachs is very positive on Hipages future and believes it is well-positioned for growth over the long term. The broker currently has a buy rating and $4.95 price target on its shares.

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    A final ASX tech share to look at is Life360. It operates in the digital consumer subscription services market, with a focus on products and services for digitally native families. The company’s increasingly popular app currently has over 30 million active users across the globe. It has also bolstered its offering with complementary acquisitions of wearables company Jiobit and items tracking company Tile. These provide significant cross-selling and expansion opportunities. Bell Potter is very bullish on Life360’s future. So much so, the broker has a buy rating and $16.25 price target on them.

    The post 3 hot ASX tech shares to buy in 2022 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns Life360, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. and Life360, Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group Limited and Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/31HQqf7

  • What will happen to Oil Search (ASX:OSH) shares following the Santos merger?

    Two Santos oil workers with hard hats shake hands in the foreground of oil equipment.

    If you’re a shareholder in the ASX 200 energy share Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH), there was some big news out this morning that you should probably pay attention to.

    As investors might know by know, Oil Search received a takeover offer from its fellow ASX 200 oil share Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) earlier this year. After a few bites at the apple, Oil Search finally accepted a takeover offer from Santos back in September. Well, this morning, investors were told that the merger is officially now “effective” after the scheme of arrangement was approved by the National Cout of Papua New Guinea. That means that today, 10 December, will be the last day that Oil Search graces the ASX boards.

    So if you own OSH shares, what happens now?

    What happens to my Oil Search shares now?

    Well, if you haven’t sold them by the end of today’s trading day, here’s what happens next. Investors holding Oil Search shares are set to receive 0.6275 Santos shares for every Oil Search share held. So say an investor owns 10,000 Oil Search shares. Following the completion of this deal, they will instead own 6,275 shares in Santos.

    The combined company is set to have a market capitalisation of roughly $22 billion. It will be (in Santos’ words), a “regional champion of size and scale” with “pro-forma 2021 production of approximately 117 million barrels of oil equivalent”.

    Here’s some of what Santos CEO Kevin Gallager had to say this morning:

    Santos and Oil Search are stronger together and will have increased scale and capacity to drive a disciplined, low-cost operating model and unrivalled growth opportunities over the next decade…

    The merger creates a company with strong and diversified cash flows, providing a platform to deliver shareholder returns and successfully navigate the transition to a lower carbon future.

    Officially, the record date for the share transition is 14 December (this Sunday). The implementation date will be 17 December, with the new Santos shares commencing normal ASX trading on 20 December.

    The Oil Search share price is currently trading at $4.06 at the time of writing, down 1.93% so far today. What a way to go out!

    The post What will happen to Oil Search (ASX:OSH) shares following the Santos merger? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Santos, 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 Santos 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

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3dAVsw7

  • Here’s what the year ahead might look like for ASX uranium shares

    ASX uranium shares represented by yellow barrels of uranium

    Without a doubt, 2021 has been a triumphant year for ASX-listed uranium shares. To illustrate, many companies with exposure to the silvery-grey metal have surged 100% or more in value this year.

    The heightened concerns of climate change have nudged governments to take their emission targets more seriously. In turn, countries are beginning to see nuclear energy as a key piece in the net-zero carbon emissions puzzle.

    At the same time, uranium supply has been uncertain following years of low prices. This has made many operations uneconomical in the past. However, as the supply and demand dynamics have come into effect, the price of uranium has rallied in response to higher demand.

    While it can be useful to understand the past, investors of ASX uranium shares are likely now looking at what next year could bring for their investments.

    Mixed outlook for ASX uranium shares

    Unfortunately, no one has a crystal ball informing them of a certain future. As such, experts and market commentators have mixed thoughts on what 2022 could bring for the uranium price — which is inextricably linked to the performance of ASX uranium shares.

    In a recent interview, Standard Uranium president and CEO, Jon Bey shared a bullish outlook for uranium in the year ahead. Despite pulling back from its new nine-year high, set in September, Bey believes uranium could be in for a multi-year price increase.

    There’s demand coming from all over the world. China has just announced 150 nuclear reactors to be built in the next 15 years. And that’s only one region. The U.S. has 95 nuclear reactors in operation. We now have bi-partisan support from both sides of government wanting nuclear reactors to stay operational longer, which is going to drive more demand.

    Jon Bey, Standard Uranium

    Meanwhile, commodity strategists at Morgan Stanley are taking the opposite stance. Although they share the belief there’s further potential upside in the uranium price, the strategists are unconvinced the rally can be sustained in 2022. This paints a less positive outlook for ASX-listed uranium shares.

    Furthermore, the team believes the underlying supply and demand for uranium remains relatively unchanged in the last few months. Morgan Stanley’s analysts hold a price forecast of US$49 per pound by 2024. For context, uranium futures are currently trading around US$45.85 per pound.

    Hard act to follow

    It certainly will be challenging for ASX-listed uranium shares to continue to deliver the magnitude of returns they did in 2021. As a quick recap, here are some of the more astonishing performances from uranium companies so far this year:

    Investors of any of the above companies have enjoyed staggering returns. However, the new year will undoubtedly come with its own set of surprises. Ultimately, the price-performance will likely be dictated by supply and demand next year.

    The post Here’s what the year ahead might look like for ASX uranium 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

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3dD5cpL

  • Is the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price going to go from $8 to $10?

    a group of stockbrokers sit in a room with a computer and writing on a wall in chalk indicating calculations and graphs while discussing something on the computer screen.

    The Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) share price has been a poor performer in recent weeks.

    For example, since peaking at a 52-week high of $9.84 two months ago, the regional bank’s shares are down almost 20% to $7.93.

    This means Bank of Queensland’s shares are up just 5% in 2021.

    Where next for the Bank of Queensland share price?

    The good news for shareholders is that a number of brokers believe the Bank of Queensland share price could be heading a lot higher from here.

    One of those brokers is Citi. According to a recent note, the broker has responded to its recent trading update by retaining its buy rating but trimming its price target slightly to $10.00.

    Based on the current Bank of Queensland share price, this implies potential upside of 26% for investors over the next 12 months.

    And with Citi forecasting a fully franked dividend of 49 cents per share in FY 2022, which represents a 6.2% yield, the total potential return on offer stretches to over 32%.

    What did the broker say?

    Citi has adjusted its earnings and valuation to reflect softer margins. However, despite this, the broker still sees enough value in the Bank of Queensland share price to maintain its buy rating.

    The broker commented: “We lower our FY22-24E cash earnings by ~0.5-2%. Lower earnings revisions largely reflect recent moves in the yield curve, which have eroded margins on fixed rate loans, in addition to the adverse mix impact. We have lowered our NIM forecasts by ~3-6bps across our forecast period to reflect this headwind, although the NII revisions are mitigated by higher forecast liquid balances. We have lowered our TP to $10 given the earnings revisions, but retain our Buy recommendation.”

    The post Is the Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) share price going to go from $8 to $10? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bank of Queensland right now?

    Before you consider Bank of Queensland, 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 Bank of Queensland 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3rOKJqp

  • Here’s why Pointerra (ASX:3DP) shares are halted today

    A young woman holds her hand up in a stop sign with a sheet of paper in the other hand showing a question mark over the Pointerra share price today

    Shares in 3D geospatial data company Pointerra Ltd (ASX: 3DP) are currently on ice amid a company-requested trading halt today.

    The ASX hit pause on the shares shortly after the open on Friday and they’ve been in limbo ever since. Prior to the halt, the Pointerra share price was fetching 34.5 cents, down 4.17% on its previous close.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening.

    Why is Pointerra on ASX ice?

    Pointerra requested the trading halt amid the pending release of a price-sensitive announcement.

    The company says this is concerning “the award of material contracts in its US operation”. There are no further details available at this time.

    The halt will remain in place until the earlier of Pointerra making the abovementioned ASX announcement or the market open next Tuesday 14 December.

    The announcement follows Pointerra’s previous contract updates in September. At that time, the company had secured a $1.55 million contract with Florida Power & Light across 4 projects.

    It also advised of another contract with Pacific Gas & Electric and Gridvision, each valued at approximately $250,000.

    The contracts involve using Pointerra’s geospatial 3D technology to model changes in key data metrics that the 2 new partners use in their operations.

    For instance, the deal with Florida Power & Light will see Pointerra’s technology model changes in vegetation growth. It will then extrapolate this data to predict vegetation growth, which will hopefully facilitate increased yields.

    Pointerra share price snapshot

    It’s been more than a difficult year for Pointerra shareholders, who are swimming in a sea of red.

    In the past 12 months, the Pointerra share price has fallen by almost 35%. The downward pressure continued in the past month of trading, with the price falling 11.5%.

    These returns have lagged the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) which is up 10% over the past year.

    The post Here’s why Pointerra (ASX:3DP) shares are halted today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Pointerra, 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 Pointerra 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

    More reading

    The author has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Pointerra Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pointerra Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3lTrkAJ

  • Why is the Whitehaven (ASX:WHC) share price hitting the dirt today?

    Miner after work full of dirt and soot with his hat light on

    The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is tumbling today amid new findings Australia is ditching coal 2 to 3 times faster than previously anticipated.

    The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – the manager of Australia’s National Electricity Market – made the claim within its ‘step change’ scenario.

    At the time of writing, the Whitehaven share price is trading at $2.41, 3.6% lower than its previous close.

    Let’s take a closer look at the scenario AEMO claims is the most likely to eventuate.

    Whitehaven share price falls amid AEMO findings

    The Whitehaven share price is struggling as the AEMO finds 39% of Australia’s coal-fired power capacity could be dropped by 2030.

    On top of that, the body predicts the utility scale of renewable energy will be increased 9-fold by 2050.

    According to AEMO’s ‘step change’ modelling, 14 gigawatts of Australia’s 23-gigawatt coal capacity will be withdrawn by 2030. That’s more than 8 gigawatts more than thermal plant owners had assumed.

    Additionally, all brown coal generation and more than 66% of black coal generation could be scrapped by 2032.

    That’s 16 years earlier than AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) plans to retire its brown coal-fired Loy Yang Power Station.

    However, while the Whitehaven share price is plunging, that of AGL isn’t suffering at all. It’s recording a 0.94% gain at the time of writing.

    Last year, coal-fired power represented 54% of Australia’s electricity, down 2% on 2019 levels.

    Under the ‘step change’ scenario, Australia will meet its net-zero policy commitments while accounting for technological advances and considering government ambitions and consumer preferences.

    The model also flagged the likelihood that all coal-generated electricity will be scrapped by 2043.

    AEMO CEO, Daniel Westerman commented on the scenario, saying:

    This transformation will efficiently deliver secure, reliable and affordable electricity while substantially contributing to national emissions objectives.

    In fact, all scenarios modelled found coal-fired power used in Australia would be significantly reduced by 2030. On top of that, all found coal-fired power was set to be removed from the electricity market completely by 2050.

    The post Why is the Whitehaven (ASX:WHC) share price hitting the dirt today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Whitehaven, 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 Whitehaven 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

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3378yPM

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

    a group of three people carry a large block to line it up in ascending order with two other blocks nearby.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looks like it wants to end the trading week on a low point this Friday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down by 0.59% at 7,341 points.

    But rather than dwelling on that, let’s instead check out the ASX 200 shares currently topping the market’s volume charts, according to investing.com.

    3 most active ASX 200 shares by volume this Friday

    Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

    Media giant Nine is our first ASX 200 share experiencing high volumes this Friday. In Nine’s case, a hefty 9.45 million shares have traded thus far today. It’s not quite clear why this is the case. There have been no major developments out of the company today. And the Nine share price hasn’t made any dramatic moves. It’s currently sitting at $2.90, up 0.35% so far today.

    However, we have seen some significant volatility here. Nine shares have been as low as $2.83 and as high as $2.192 after opening at $2.90 this morning. Perhaps this volatility is behind the elevated trading volume we see.

    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

    Diversified ASX 200 mining company South32 is next up. This resources giant has had a sizeable 10.72 million of its shares find new owners thus far today. Again, there’s not much going on in the South32 news department this Friday. However, South32 shares are still up a healthy 1.45% so far today at $3.36 each. We covered a positive broker report on South32 yesterday as well, so perhaps that is in play too.

    Sydney Airport (ASX: SYD)

    Sydney Airport is our last and most traded ASX 200 share thus far this Friday. A chunky 14.53 million SYD shares have been bought and sold so far today. Not much is happening with the Sydney Airport share price today. It’s currently at $8.60, up 0.12%.

    However, this company has been flying around the ASX boards this week, ever since we found out that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced it would give the green light to Sydney Airport’s proposed takeover offer from Sydney Aviation Alliance. That might be what’s going on today.

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Sydney Airport right now?

    Before you consider Sydney Airport, 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 Sydney Airport 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

    More reading

    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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3Gz056j

  • The Douugh (ASX:DOU) share price is sinking 9% on Friday. Here’s why

    Douugh investor looking angry while talking on phone and looking at computer

    The Douugh Ltd (ASX: DOU) share price is nosediving during Friday afternoon. This comes after the financial wellness app provider released its share purchase plan (SPP) offer booklet to investors.

    At the time of writing, the Douugh share price is 7.1 cents, down 8.97%. It has fallen by 15% in the past week.

    Share purchase plan details

    ASX investors are selling Douugh shares after the company invited retail shareholders to participate in its SPP.

    Following the successful $8 million placement, Douugh has extended its offer to eligible shareholders. Under the SPP, investors can apply to buy a parcel of shares at a price of 7.2 cents.

    The same terms offered in the placement represent a discount of 13.2% on the closing price on 1 December (to be eligible for the SPP). This is also an 18% discount to the volume-weighted average Douugh share price over the 5 days before the company announced the SPP.

    Investors can apply for a minimum application amount of $2,000 up to a maximum application amount of $30,000.

    The company is seeking to raise $2.5 million through the SPP. However, Douugh may scale this back or increase it depending on the total value of the applications.

    Together with the placement, Douugh aims to capitalise on the strong momentum experienced since August 2021. Douugh will use the funds to accelerate user and revenue growth by investing in research and development as well as marketing initiatives.

    The closing date for the SPP is 23 December. The new Douugh shares will be issued on 4 January 2022. They will be tradeable from the following day.

    Douugh share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Douugh share price has plummeted in value by about 70%. Year-to-date has been just as disappointing, down by almost 60% after investor sentiment waned.

    Based on today’s price, Douugh commands a market capitalisation of $32.21 million with approximately 453.71 million shares on issue.

    The post The Douugh (ASX:DOU) share price is sinking 9% on Friday. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Douugh, 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 Douugh 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

    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. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/3yelSO3