• BHP (ASX:BHP) share price rises amid coal asset sale rumours

    Hand holding small sack of coins giving to another hand

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is currently up more than 1% amid rumours regarding its coal assets.

    BHP generates most of its profit from iron ore and copper, but the business also has metallurgical coal and thermal coal divisions.

    Coal asset sale on the cards?

    According to reporting by The Australian, BHP may be considering selling its coal assets.

    Previously, it was rumoured that BHP was very close to selling its coal assets to Peabody Energy in August, though nothing has happened.

    However, the discussions have reportedly continued.

    Coal prices continue to climb and BHP is benefiting from the surge in profit that the coal segment is generating.

    The Australian reported that the high coal price is encouraging other potential bidders to think about it such as BUMA and Sinar Mas Group. However, New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) is apparently not one of the businesses that are currently interested.

    The newspaper quoted a figure of approximately $2 billion for the potential worth of the coal business.

    It was noted that BHP may be motivated to sell off its coal assets whilst the coal price is so high, rather than waiting for when there may be no buyers.

    However, it may be possible that BHP decides to hold onto the assets and benefit from the cashflow it makes and “run them down” over the coming years.

    BHP to exit all fossil fuels?

    If BHP were to exit coal, then that would leave it with a portfolio of iron ore, copper, nickel and potash. That might put the BHP share price in focus for investors that exclude ‘fossil fuels’ from their portfolios.

    If readers are wondering about the petroleum business, it’s currently in the process of merging that with Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL).

    The two businesses have agreed to merge the oil and gas portfolios in an all-share merger to create a global top 10 independent energy company by production.

    After BHP shareholders receive new Woodside shares, BHP investors will own 48% of the business and Woodside will own 52% of the combined company.

    Describing the benefits of the merger, Woodside and BHP said:

    With the combination of two high-quality asset portfolios, the proposed merger would create the largest energy company listed on the ASX, with a global top 10 position in the LNG industry by production. The combined company will have a high margin oil portfolio, long life LNG assets and the financial resilience to help supply the energy needed for global growth and development over the energy transition.

    One of the benefits that the companies provided further detail on was estimated synergies of more than US$400 million per annum from optimising corporate processes and systems, leveraging combined capabilities and improving capital efficiency on future growth projects and exploration.

    BHP share price snapshot

    According to the ASX, BHP has a market capitalisation of $112.3 billion.

    Commsec puts BHP shares at around 10x FY23’s estimated earnings.

    The post BHP (ASX:BHP) share price rises amid coal asset sale rumours 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 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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  • Here’s why the Seafarms (ASX:SFG) share price is plunging 8% today

    a man in a business suit stands on top of an office chair in a sea of murky water with shark fins circling.

    The Seafarms Group Ltd (ASX: SFG) share price is plummeting today following news of a budget blowout.

    The aquaculture company broke its trading halt this morning when it announced the cost of the first stage of its Project Sea Dragon has increased by as much as 49%.

    As can be expected, the market has reacted poorly to today’s news from Seafarms.

    At the time of writing, the Seafarms share price is 5.2 cents, 8.77% lower than its previous close.

    However, that’s better than its intraday low of 4.8 cents. Then, it was sporting a 15% drop.

    Let’s take a closer look at the project’s increased cost estimates.

    Seafarms’ budget blowout

    The Seafarms share price is sliding after the company announced the expected cost of its Project Sea Dragon’s stage 1a has soared by as much as $135 million.

    Sea Dragon is a proposed, large-scale, prawn aquaculture project being developed in various sites across northern Australia to supply high-quality prawns to export markets.

    Last time the company updated the market on the project’s costs, it outlined it expected to spend $275 million to $290 million for its first stage.

    Today, that estimate has increased to between $370 million and $410 million.

    The company has once more flagged that it will need additional equity funding to finish the project’s first stage.

    However, Seafarms made it clear the original estimate didn’t include contingencies or escalation. The company also believes the true cost will be at the lower end of the new range.

    Additionally, Seafarms has given another $17 million worth of work to the head contractor of the Legune section of the project in the Northern Territory. Canstruct was originally contracted to provide $78 million worth of work.

    The extra funds will cover the project’s jetty hardstands, roads, and quarry services.

    Of the construction works now awarded to Canstruct, the price, in aggregate, is within 8% of company’s budget estimates. That represents around 54% of the capex required at the Legune site.

    Further, Canstruct is only authorised to do $57 million worth of work so costs remain within the limits of the company’s recent capital raise.

    Seafarms is also making progress with its construction debt facility. Agreements for construction facilities of between $100 million and $150 million and between $15 million and $35 million of working capital are targeted for the final quarter of 2021.

    Finally, the company’s experiencing some construction delays at the project’s Exmouth and Bynoe sites. It’s also keeping an eye on the incoming wet season and COVID-19-related border closures, which could cause more delays.

    Seafarm share price snapshot

    Today’s dip has added to Seafarms’ recent struggles on the ASX.

    The company’s share price has fallen 38% since the start of 2021. It is also 51% lower than it was this time last year.

    The post Here’s why the Seafarms (ASX:SFG) share price is plunging 8% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Seafarms, 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 Seafarms 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 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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  • CBA share price (ASX:CBA) gains amid remedial action plan update

    a man in a suit looks serious while discussing business dealings with a couple as they sit around a computer at a desk in a bank home lending scenario.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is in positive territory on Tuesday. This comes after Australia’s largest bank provided an update regarding its prudential inquiry remedial action plan.

    During early afternoon trade, CBA shares are up 0.24% to $104.94.

    CBA completes remedial action plan

    In today’s statement, CBA published the final report on its remedial action plan, improving on governance, culture, and accountability issues.

    In 2018, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) launched an inquiry into CBA following a number of scandals. This included giving out poor advice, major anti-money laundering breaches, fee errors, and issues with insurance.

    At the time, APRA’s findings led it to believe the bank had a negligent attitude to non-financial risks.

    Independent consulting firm Promontory made a suite of recommendations to improve the bank’s culture. Since then, the agency has conducted quarterly reviews to monitor CBA’s progress in remedying the issues at hand.

    As such, the bank has noted that all milestones have been completed and all recommendations have been implemented.

    APRA will undertake further validation work to assess the sustainability of CBA’s improvements with Promontory. In addition, APRA will also continue to monitor the bank’s prudential inquiry work.

    However, this latest report is unlikely to be directly affecting the CBA share price today.

    CBA chief executive Matt Comyn commented:

    Three years ago, we committed to delivering all recommendations in the prudential inquiry final report.

    Completing the Remedial Action Plan is a significant milestone but we recognise there is still much more for us to do. Our focus is to now demonstrate that the changes we’ve made are sustained and continuously improved.

    About the CBA share price

    It has been a strong 12 months for the CBA share price, rising by more than 50% despite moving in circles since mid-June. However, when looking at the year to date, the company’s shares have travelled more than 25% higher.

    Based on today’s price, CBA commands a market capitalisation of roughly $178 billion and has approximately 1.7 billion shares outstanding.

    The post CBA share price (ASX:CBA) gains amid remedial action plan update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider CBA, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CBA wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for 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 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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  • What happened for the Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price in the FY22 first quarter?

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    The Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has been an interesting one to watch over the past year. Since bottoming out around $2.66 back in October last year, Telstra shares have been on quite the run. The telco is today sitting at a share price of $3.86. That’s roughly 45% off of the 52-week low that we saw back in October. We also see Telstra shares up 28.4% year to date in 2021 so far, and up 39% over the past 12 months to date.

    But how did Telstra shares perform over the most recent quarter? The FY2022 year just saw its first quarter (running 1 July – 30 September) end, so how did Telstra shares go?

    Well, this ASX 200 telco started the quarter off at a share price of $3.76. It finished up the quarter on 30 September at a price of $3.93. That puts its raw capital gains at roughly 4.52% for the quarter just passed. Not bad, one could say, especially considering that the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) only managed a performance of 0.26% over the same period. That means the Telstra share price handily outperformed the market over the FY22 first quarter.

    It’s also worth noting that this performance includes Telstra going ex-dividend for its final shareholder dividend during the quarter. Telstra traded ex-dividend on 25 August for its 8 cents per share payout, which naturally resulted in the Telstra share price taking a commensurate hit.

    But this payout only hit shareholders’ pockets on 23 September, after the quarter ended. If these dates had been shuffled around to include the dividend payment in the quarter, shareholder returns for the period would have been even better.

    So where to now for Telstra shares?

    Could the Telstra share price be a buy today?

    One broker who thinks so is investment bank Goldman SachsGoldman last month reaffirmed Telstra shares as a ‘buy‘, with a 12-month share price target of $4.40. That implies a future potential 12-month upside of roughly 14% on current pricing.

    Goldman is bullish on Telstra following the company’s T25 update, which outlined a number of further cost-saving measures Telstra is planning on implementing. It also notes Telstra’s prioritisation of “growing franked dividends over time” as well as an expected share buyback program.

    At the current Telstra share price, this telco has a market capitalisation of $44 billion and a dividend yield of 4.15%.

    The post What happened for the Telstra (ASX:TLS) share price in the FY22 first quarter? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Telstra, 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 Telstra 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 Sebastian Bowen owns shares of 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 shares of 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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  • Why the Ansell (ASX: ANN) share price is crashing today

    Ansell share price Downgrade in ASX share price represented by street sign saying downgrade ahead Hub24 share price

    The Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) share price took a dive this morning after a leading broker urged investors to dump the shares.

    That sent the glove maker’s ASX share price crashing over 4% to $32.33 at the time of writing. Adding insult to injury, the Ansell share price is the worst performer on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO).

    If you are wondering, the Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) share price is the second worse while the Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: CUV) is in third spot.

    Ansell share price whacked by broker downgrade

    Investors are hitting the “sell” button after Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) downgraded the Ansell share price to “underperform”.

    That may sound counterintuitive as we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) is still strong and that’s unlikely to change.

    In fact, single-use gloves for examinations (Exam/SU) were Ansell’s biggest revenue contributor in FY20. The product accounted for around one-third of group revenue.

    From hero to zero?

    The item remained a hot product in FY21 but price pressures started to bite and management was able to increase prices to offset the squeeze.

    They did such a good job that Macquarie estimates that the price increase was above the extra cost for raw materials.

    This pretty much shows the price inelasticity for essential items like PPE during a pandemic!

    Victim of its own success

    Based on Macquarie’s numbers, the price increase added $70 million to Ansell’s gross profit in 2HFY21. This equates to around a 60% increase of the year-on-year gross profit improvement in FY21.

    But cracks in the Ansell share price growth story have started to appear that prompted the downgrade.

    “Recent industry feedback suggests reduced demand and increased supply thinner nitrile Exam/SU gloves, leading to lower ASPs (approaching pre-COVID-19 levels),” said Macquarie.

    “In addition, feedback suggests a refocus of supply into other segments (thicker exam/single use, surgical). We now assume weaker volumes for Exam/SU in FY22/23 as well as the reversal of the majority of price increases implemented in FY21.”

    Ansell share price at risk of consensus downgrades

    In other words, the Ansell share price could soon be facing a consensus downgrade cycle, if Macquarie is right.

    The broker’s FY22 earnings per share (EPS) forecast for Ansell of US$1.70 sits under the low-end of the company’s guidance. The guidance is for between US$1.75 and US$1.95 a share.

    What is the Ansell share price worth?

    Further, Macquarie’s FY23 EPS estimate is 16% under consensus. The broker’s 12-month price target on the Ansell share price is $32.

    At least the shares don’t have to fall by much more to reach fair value after today’s big sell-off.

    The post Why the Ansell (ASX: ANN) share price is crashing 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Ansell Ltd. and Macquarie Group 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 shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited and Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price has rallied 24% in 3 weeks

    share price up

    The Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) share price is bucking the wider selling trend on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Woodside is up 0.2% at time of writing, while the ASX 200 has given back early morning gains and is currently down 0.2%.

    The Woodside share price has outperformed the benchmark for some time now.

    Taking a look at the past 3 weeks, it’s up 24% since the closing bell on 20 September. That compares to a 0.5% gain on the ASX 200.

    Below we take a look at what’s driving investor interest in the Aussie energy giant.

    Namely…

    A global energy crunch

    There are numerous factors at play that determine any company’s share price.

    For the Woodside share price, one of those factors is the company’s plans to merge with BHP Group Ltd‘s (ASX: BHP) oil and gas business, which it announced in mid-August.

    But one of the strongest tailwinds the company has enjoyed of late is soaring energy prices.

    As the world moves to reopen, demand for everything from coal, to natural gas, to crude oil (and more) is booming. Meanwhile, new supplies are lagging.

    The result?

    International benchmark Brent crude prices have rocketed 12.8% in just the past 3 weeks, from US$73.92 per barrel on 21 September to US$83.33 per barrel today.

    These kind of price rises often go straight to the bottom line for commodity producers. That’s because their fixed costs remain largely the same, regardless of the price of the fuel they pump from the ground.

    Hence, the 24% leap in the Woodside share price isn’t unexpected.

    Indeed, most ASX energy shares have enjoyed a strong run lately. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ), for example, is up 20% in 3 weeks.

    Woodside share price snapshot

    As we saw above, the Woodside share price has slightly outpaced the Energy Index over the last 3 weeks and left the ASX 200 in the dust.

    Year-to-date Woodside shares are up 10%. That’s right in line with the 10% gains posted by the Energy Index and just edges out the 9% gains made on the ASX 200.

    The post Why the Woodside (ASX:WPL) share price has rallied 24% in 3 weeks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woodside, 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 Woodside 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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  • Forrestania (ASX:FRS) share price rockets 17% on lithium and gold update

    A drawing of a white rocket streaking up, indicating a surging share pirce movement

    The Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS) share price is soaring 17.14% into the green during early afternoon trade and is now changing hands at 41 cents.

    Forrestania shares are on the move after the company announced a key update regarding its Forrestania project.

    Here’s what we know.

    Forrestania share price lifts on significant lithium target finds

    The company advised that it had identified “significant new lithium target areas” based on testing done at the Forrestania site.

    It used a technology known as “Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)” to identify alteration footprints and target anomalies at the project.

    ASTER technology is an instrument onboard NASA’s Terra satellite, which produces images of the Earth’s surface in 14 alternate wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, per the release.

    Forrestania is integrating the technology into its exploration targeting process, in order to rank and define areas of interest.

    The release notes that Forrestania stumbled across a major ASTER lithium target anomaly, adjacent to the Wesfarmers/SQM MT Holland Lithium mine – a site labelled ‘world class’ by the company.

    As a result of the testing outcomes, Forrestania proclaims that “outstanding lithium prospectivity (at the project) is supported by a substantial first-pass geochemical database”.

    The next moves for Forrestania at the site involve “geological reconnaissance and field checking; and geochemical sampling” alongside other groundwork.

    The company will release more on the results as they become available, as per the release.

    Management appeared impressed by the news, and are optimistic about the new target find. Speaking on the announcement, Forrestania CEO, Melanie Sutterby, said:

    The ASTER data presented in this release is a small but significant part of our exploration efforts at the Forrestania Project, which is a unique and prospective portfolio. Geologically, our package holds the potential to discover a range of commodities, including lithium, nickel and other speciality metals.

    Sutterby also went on to add:

    With its status as a world-class lithium province ascribed within the past decade, explorers have only just scratched the surface at Forrestania, and we plan to play a lead role in the development of the area.

    Forrestania Resources share price snapshot

    It’s been all systems go for the Forrestania Resources share price since listing last month.

    In that time, initial investors have gained 115% on their investment, capturing another 30% this week alone.

    The post Forrestania (ASX:FRS) share price rockets 17% on lithium and gold update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Forrestania Resources, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Forrestania Resources 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 author Zach Bristow has no positions 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 lithium shares lift as spot prices hit all-time highs

    asx share price growth represented by cartoon man flexing biceps in front of charged battery

    ASX lithium shares are charging higher on Tuesday as lithium prices reached all-time highs amid limited supply and elevated demand.

    ASX 200 lithium heavyweights Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) are up 1.4% and 3.8% respectively.

    Towards the more speculative end of town, Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL), Charger Metals NL (ASX: CHR) and Argosy Minerals Limited (ASX: AGY) are big winners today, up 6.2%, 10.5% and 3.8% respectively.

    Not all gains are made equal, however, with players such as Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Firefinch Ltd (ASX: FFX) and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) underperforming in today’s session so far, down a respective 0.7%, 2.4% and 1.2%.

    Runaway spot prices drive ASX lithium shares higher

    According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, prices for battery-grade lithium carbonate rose 26.5% in China to 160,000 yuan (US$24,800) a tonne in the final two weeks of September.

    This marks a new all-time high for battery-grade lithium carbonate prices, surpassing 2018 highs of US$24,750 a tonne.

    Prices have jumped on the back of strong demand from China, with demand for lithium-ion batteries “remaining high and steady after a year of significant growth”.

    Looking ahead, Benchmark Minerals said that record prices are “likely to incentivise a strong upward revision of contract prices in Q4 as new deals and pricing breaks are negotiated for the start of 2022”.

    It also observed that supply contracts negotiated in the fourth quarter can be influenced by spot market sentiment.

    “It is this revision that sparked the surge in lithium chemicals pricing in 2015, indicating that the start of 2022 could see further momentum in price rises,” the report added.

    The bullish performance of lithium has helped buoy ASX lithium shares.

    The broader sector has cooled off in recent months with many shares trading 15-20% below recent multi-year or all-time highs.

    The post ASX lithium shares lift as spot prices hit all-time highs 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 Kerry Sun 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 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: Westpac’s $1.3bn earnings hit, Ansell sinks

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    At lunch on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has given back its morning gains and is trading lower. The benchmark index is currently down 0.1% to 7,291.5 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    Westpac’s notable items

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is trading lower today after revealing a number of notable items that will impact its financial results. Westpac advised that its profit will be hit by a total of $1.3 billion of notable items. These include $965 million write down of assets in Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) following its annual impairment test, and additional provisions for customer refunds, payments, associated costs and litigation provisions of $172 million.

    Ansell shares downgraded

    The Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) share price is under pressure today after being the subject of a bearish broker note. According to a note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), its analysts have downgraded the health and safety protection solutions company’s shares to an underperform rating and cut the price target on them to $32.00. The broker believes that recent trends pose downside risk to the market’s earnings expectations.

    Mining giants rise

    The shares of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) are rising today after a strong night for iron ore prices. According to Metal Bulletin, the spot iron ore price has jumped 9.4% to US$135.03 a tonne thanks to supply concerns. BHP and Rio Tinto’s shares are both up approximately 1.5% at the time of writing.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Tuesday has been the Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC) share price with a 5% gain. This appears to have been driven by rising alumina prices. The worst performer on the index has been the Ansell share price with a 4% decline following the broker downgrade.

    The post ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) midday update: Westpac’s $1.3bn earnings hit, Ansell sinks 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.*

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of 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 owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Tinybeans (ASX:TNY) share price is up 6% today

    Family smile and laugh as they look at a laptop.

    The Tinybeans Group Ltd (ASX: TNY) share price is soaring on Tuesday morning. This follows the tech company’s business update in regards to its new paid subscription model, Beanstalk.

    At the time of writing, the company’s shares are up 6.25% to $1.02. In earlier trading, they jumped by 10% to $1.06 before partially retreating.

    What did Tinybeans announce?

    In its release, Tinybeans advised its subscription offering, Beanstalk, has acquired more than 3,500 new paying subscribers since being launched. The product was integrated in full across the platform in August 2021.

    The company’s strategy has been to grow consumer subscriptions with recurring revenues to complement its growing advertising revenues. To facilitate this, the model moved from a mostly free experience into a new, comprehensive paid subscription service.

    As such, Tinybeans highlighted its advertising revenue is on track to reach record levels in Q1 FY22.

    CEO Eddie Geller commented on the news possibly driving the Tinybeans share price today:

    The strong early adoption trends we have experienced following the launch of our paid subscription product, Beanstalk, in August highlight the additional value we are delivering to our userbase.

    Additionally, we have maintained our momentum in our advertising business, which remains on track to deliver record revenues in Q1 FY22. We believe this is a testament to the success of our efforts to improve the platform experience for our advertising partners and increase engagement from our valued members.

    We are proud of the incremental milestones that we have achieved and look forward to providing additional details when we report our results for Q1 FY22.

    Quick take on Tinybeans

    Developed in Australia, Tinybeans is a social media platform that allows parents to share photos and videos of their children within a secure community.

    The platform addresses cyber security and user privacy concerns by creating a contained, invite-only environment. This gives users peace of mind when uploading content and sharing within an approved network.

    Tinybeans share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Tinybeans share price has fallen by around 13%. It is also down around 32% year to date.

    Based on today’s price, Tinybeans commands a market capitalisation of roughly $48 million and has approximately 46.3 million shares outstanding.

    The post Why the Tinybeans (ASX:TNY) share price is up 6% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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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. owns shares of and has recommended Tinybeans Group Ltd. 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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