• Why the Accent (ASX:AX1) share price is surging 12% today

    A drawing of a rocket follows a chart up, indicating share price lift

    The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price has stepped firmly into the green on Wednesday.

    Accent shares are now exchanging hands at $2.31 apiece, which is a 12.44% gain from the open.

    Let’s uncover what’s been driving the Accent share price today.

    What’s up with the Accent share price today?

    There has been no market sensitive information released by the company today. However, Accent shares have been on an extended run into the red over the last few weeks, much to the dismay of investors.

    So today’s gains are a welcomed reversal of the downward pressures Accent shareholders have faced since the share prices’ previous high of $2.80 on August 10.

    One factor that could help why the Accent share price is soaring today, is an analyst note out of leading broker Morgan Stanley.

    The broker upgraded its price target by 8.3% to $2.60 per share earlier and also upgraded its recommendation to overweight from equal weight.

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley are confident the company can continue unlocking value for shareholders in the periods to come, saying “(It) sees upside to Accent’s FY22 store target of at least 65 stores, given these stores are mostly signed”.

    The broker went on to say that “Accent has a track record in beating targets”, which could weigh in positively.

    It also thinks Accent shares are a buy given the forecasted strengths in the broader activewear/lifestyle sector, which could deliver outsized growth in years to come.

    What are other brokers saying?

    Several other brokers have also upgraded their recommendations on Accent’s shares in the last few weeks, notably after the company’s FY21 earnings report last month.

    In a recent change of heart, broker Citi upgraded to a neutral rating on Accent shares, but still cut its assigned price target to $2.14. A month earlier Citi had a sell recommendation to investors on the company’s shares.

    Australian broker Bell Potter Securities also has a buy rating and $2.90 price target on the Accent share price, citing “strong underlying fundamentals of the business (that) remain strong and attractive” in its reasoning.

    The sum of these analyst equity reports appears to be weighing in on the Accent share price today, particularly the note out of Morgan Stanley’s equity research team today.

    Accent share price snapshot

    The Accent share price has struggled this year to date and finds itself around 0.5% in the red since January 1. In the last month alone, Accent’s share price has slipped a further 13.5% into the red.

    Despite this, Accent shares have climbed 51% over the last 12 months, and are up 4% in the last week, thanks to today’s results. This is ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO)’s return of around 25% over the past year.

    The post Why the Accent (ASX:AX1) share price is surging 12% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Accent Group right now?

    Before you consider Accent Group, 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 Accent Group 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 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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  • Here are 2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month

    A miner holding a hard hat stands in the foreground of an open cut mine

    ASX mining shares have shared mixed fortunes in 2021. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have slipped 5% lower this year while Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares have surged 185% higher.

    Of course, investors need to be comparing apples to apples when analysing the resources sector. That’s because underlying commodity prices can have an enormous impact on valuations at any given point.

    Having said that, there are two ASX mining shares worth watching right now. That’s because both of these companies have seen their market values surge more than 25% in the past month.

    2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month

    1. Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    The Whitehaven Coal share price has climbed 32.3% higher in the past month. Shares in the Aussie coal miner have been charging higher on the back of strong coal prices in China.

    Premium hard coking coal prices are climbing, according to Fastmarkets MB, which comes after a weaker than expected full-year result for Whitehaven.

    Whitehaven reported a 9.3% drop in revenue to $1.56 billion in FY21 and a net loss after tax before significant items of $87.3 million.

    However, the recent surge in coal prices is boosting the ASX mining share higher right now.

    2. Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)

    It’s not just coal that’s doing well at the moment. Alumina shares have climbed 25% higher in the past month despite no recent announcements from the alumina refinery and bauxite mining investor.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, a strong rally in alumina prices is helping drive the latest gains. According to Fastmarkets MB, alumina prices surged 10% on Thursday, September 9 to their highest point since April 2019.

    Freight disruptions and tightening supply have helped boost prices which is good news for the ASX mining share. Alumina owns a 40% stake in the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) joint venture alongside global aluminium heavyweight Alcoa Corp (NYSE:AA).

    The Alumina share price is on the tear right now and is having a solid run in August and September.

    The post Here are 2 ASX mining shares up 25% in the past month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

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

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  • Why this broker sees the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price hitting $30

    high five, happy business people, happy investors., share price rise, increase, up

    It has been a stunning year for the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price.

    Since the start of 2021, the banking giant’s shares have risen almost 31%.

    This is nearly triple the return of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

    Is the Westpac share price run over?

    The good news is that one leading broker believes the Westpac share price run is far from over.

    According to a recent note out of Citi, its analysts have a buy rating and $30.00 price target on the bank’s shares.

    Based on the current Westpac share price of $25.62, this implies potential upside of 17% before dividends.

    Citi is also forecasting a fully franked dividend of $1.30 per share in FY 2022. So, if we add this into the equation as well, the potential return increases to over 22%.

    What did the broker say?

    Citi came away from a meeting with Westpac’s management team late last month feeling very positive about the bank’s outlook.

    While it acknowledges that Westpac is facing revenue headwinds, particularly in the Markets and Treasury businesses, it expects the bank’s cost cutting plans to help offset this.

    Earlier this year management announced an ambitious plan to cut its operating costs by almost 40% by 2024. This will see the bank’s operating expenses fall from FY 2020’s $12.7 billion to approximately $8 billion.

    Citi expects this to underpin generous dividends in the coming years. The broker is forecasting a fully franked dividend of $1.16 per share in FY 2021 and, as mentioned above, $1.30 per share in FY 2022.

    Based on the current Westpac share price, this will mean yields of 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively, over the next couple of financial years.

    All in all, the broker believes this makes the Westpac share price good value at the current level.

    The post Why this broker sees the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price hitting $30 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Westpac, 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 Westpac 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 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 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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  • Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price struggles amid bricks frustration

    A little kid cries in frustration because her blocks fell over and broke.

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is wobbling today amid reports its latest promotional campaign has customers frustrated.

    Woolworths announced its Woolworths Bricks campaign last month. Since then, the collectable building blocks have launched in the company’s supermarkets.

    However, some customers are frustrated, complaining that many stores have sold out of the collectables in only a week.

    Right now, the Woolworths share price is $39.35, 0.03% higher than its previous close. Though it spent the morning in the red, reaching a low point of $39.29.

    Despite its rocky performance, the Woolworths share price is doing better than the broader market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 0.5%, having fallen 37 points at the time of writing. Additionally, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is also down 0.45% today.

    Let’s take a closer look at the frustrations felt by some of the supermarket giant’s customers.

    The Woolworths share price is sliding today amid reports the retailer has run out of its latest collectables.

    Woolworths recently launched Woolworths Bricks, a collectable set of building blocks customers can use to build a miniature version of a sustainable Woolworths supermarket.

    The campaign began last Wednesday, except in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, where numerous outlets report it will launch on 22 September.

    Shoppers can receive one brick for every $30 they spend on groceries through Woolworths. There are 40 bricks to collect, depicting miniature versions of solar panels, checkouts and trolleys. Customers can also buy model delivery vans, electric trucks, and starter packs that come with a floor and front doors.

    The bricks are made from 80% recycled material and can be recycled through TerraCycle.

    However, it seems the company’s latest campaign has been more popular than anticipated.

    One shopper posted to the company’s Facebook page complaining their local Woolworths store and the supermarket’s online store have run out of Woolworths Bricks. Woolworths replied to the complaint stating the Bricks have been immensely popular and were only available while stocks last.

    The Motley Fool reached out to Woolworths for comment on its Woolworths Bricks campaign but didn’t receive a response in time for publication.

    Woolworths share price snapshot

    Despite today’s weak performance, the Woolworths share price is having a good year on the ASX.

    It is currently 13% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 22.5% since this time last year.

    The post Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price struggles amid bricks frustration appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Woolworths Group right now?

    Before you consider Woolworths Group, 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 Woolworths Group 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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  • Mastermyne (ASX:MYE) share price sinks 18% after mining fatality

    a miner hanging his head down as if disappointed.

    Shares in Mastermyne Group Limited (ASX: MYE) are in freefall today after the mining services company reported the death of a worker in an underground incident last night.

    Resources Health and Safety Queensland are investigating the incident, with all mining operations suspended until further notice.

    At the time of writing, the Mastermyne share price has plummeted 18.55% to 90 cents.

    What happened?

    In a statement to the ASX, Mastermyne reported that a worker was fatally injured last night in an underground mine collapse in central Queensland.

    A section of wall and ceiling caved in while operations were underway at Gregory Coal Mine, located at Crinum, the company said.

    Mastermyne advised that one of its workers was fatally injured, while another employee was trapped in the rubble. He has since been freed and is in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Mastermyne managing director Tony Caruso said the company was providing support and assistance to the affected families. Counselling services have also been made available to all staff impacted by the incident:

    This is a tragic event and our immediate thoughts are with the family, friends and workmates of our employee.

    The safety and wellbeing of our staff is one of our core values. The cause of the incident will be thoroughly investigated and we will continue to support the family and our work colleagues.

    Quick refresher on the Mastermyne contract

    In late May, Mastermyne secured a $660 million mining services contract to operate the Gregory coal underground mine owned by Sojitz.

    The 7-year deal includes an initial 6-month period of work to re-establish the underground infrastructure, with 180 full-time personnel employed. Works include conveyor systems, ventilation and associated mine services, plus remediation works and surface infrastructure.

    The company previously planned to start mining production late this calendar year.

    The mine has coal reserves amounting to 159 million tonnes of coking coal. This makes it one of the largest coal reserves in Australia and the world.

    About the Mastermyne share price

    As of market close yesterday, Mastermyne shares were trading 25% higher over the past 12 months. However, after today’s significant fall, its shares are now flat.

    The company’s share price is up by more than 30% year-to-date.

    Based on today’s price, Mastermyne has a market capitalisation of roughly $97.3 million, and approximately 107.5 million shares on issue.

    The post Mastermyne (ASX:MYE) share price sinks 18% after mining fatality appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Mastermyne, 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 Mastermyne 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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  • Canva is now worth more than Woolworths! When can we buy shares?

    a person with an uncomfortable, questioning expression and arms outstretched as if asking why?

    Tech company Canva, one of Australia’s most successful unicorns, is now worth an astonishing $55 billion.

    A $55 billion valuation would place Canva at a higher market capitalisation than many ASX 200 blue chip shares. That  includes Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and even Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

    This new valuation for Canva was reported in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) this morning. According to the report, Canva has just completed a new US$200 million funding round. It was reported some of the company’s earliest backers, like BlackBird Ventures and AirTree Ventures, took part. 

    This funding round values Canva at US$40 billion, or $54.76 billion in the local currency. That’s pretty much on par with the current market capitalisation of Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG). It was only 6 months ago that the company was valued at less than half of that figure.

    The report also goes through some of Canva’s financials:

    Canva now claims to have over 60 million monthly active users, up from 55 million at its last raise, and said it was on track to exceed $US1 billion ($1.4 billion) in annualised revenue by the end of 2021.

    The company has been profitable since 2017. It claimed there are now more than 500,000 paying teams subscribed to Canva, including from companies like American Airlines, Zoom, SkyScanner, Intel, Salesforce, PayPal and Marriott International.

    So if you’re not an investor with BlackBird Ventures and the like, when can you or I expect to be able to participate in this growth story? When will Canva IPO and join the ASX boards as a public company?

    When will Canva IPO?

    Not for a while, at least according to another report in the AFR this week. This report claims Canva is unlikely to go public “for at least a year”.

    This is reportedly on valuation concerns, with inside investors worries that the public markets won’t accept an even higher valuation that might make an IPO attractive. Here’s what the report said on the matter:

    Regardless, the word on the street is that Canva would have to be willing to accept a substantial discount on its current valuation if it were to list now, so why not just wait?

    The report also flags that the company may bypass the ASX altogether if it does eventually float, citing the company’s size and scale as more suited to the US Nasdaq exchange. In fact, the report stated “You can lock in the NASDAQ for Canva”, so that’s pretty unequivocal.

    Unfortunately, we retail investors simply miss out sometimes. It seems it will stay that way for Canva. At least for now, anyway.

    The post Canva is now worth more than Woolworths! When can we buy 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.

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Intel, Telstra Corporation Limited, and Zoom Video Communications. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Zoom Video Communications. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Intel and has recommended the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel and short January 2023 $57.50 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET and Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Zoom Video Communications. 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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  • The Lotus Resources (ASX:LOT) share price is up 35% in a week

    Man in white hard hat cheers with fists pumped

    The Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) share price has been on fire this past week.

    Over the last 7 days, shares in the mining exploration company have rocketed more than 35%.

    Let’s take a look at what’s propelling the Lotus share price higher this past week.

    What’s fuelling the Lotus Resources share price?

    Despite not releasing much price-sensitive news in the past week, investors have continued to push the Lotus share price higher.

    Yesterday, the mining exploration company announced that the licence for its Kayelekera Project Uranium project was renewed.

    According to the release, Lotus’ mining licence for the site was renewed for a further 15 years.

    Lotus Managing Director Keith Bowes commented:

    We are delighted to have received an extension of our Mining Licence for an additional 15 years. This is a critical step, as it provides certainty and confidence to our investors that Lotus has the full backing of the Government to continue our on-going development of Kayelekera, as we position the Project to be one of the first assets to recommence production in an ever improving uranium price environment.

    Prior to yesterday’s announcement, the company’s share price has also benefited from increased interest in the uranium sector.

    After being in a prolonged bear market, uranium spot prices have soared in the past month.

    According to Cameco, uranium prices have soared to 6-year highs.

    Strength in the underlying commodity has helped fuel the Lotus Resources share price in the past week.  

    The major catalyst behind the soaring uranium spot price has been the aggressive buying of the world’s largest uranium fund, Sprott Physical Uranium Trust.

    More on the Lotus Resources share price

    Lotus Resources is a mining and exploration business with mineral development interests in Australia and Malawi.

    The company has an 85% interest in its flagship Kayelekera Uranium Project in Malawi.

    According to Lotus, the project hosts a current resource of 37.5 million pounds in U3O8, which is a compound of uranium.

    The company recently completed a positive feasibility study which demonstrated that Kayelekera can support a viable long-term operation.

    Since the start of the year, the Lotus Resources share price has soared more than 127%.

    At the time of writing, shares in the mining exploring company have continued their bullish run, trading more than 4% higher for the day at 28.5 cents.

    The post The Lotus Resources (ASX:LOT) share price is up 35% in a week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Lotus 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 Lotus 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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    Motley Fool contributor Nikhil Gangaram 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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  • Cryptocurrencies are making their way into more retiree portfolios

    An older woman high fives an older man with big smiles after seeing good news on their laptop.

    Despite the inherent volatility of cryptocurrencies, a report has found more people of retirement age are delving into the space.

    The findings were shared in the inaugural annual BTC Markets Investor Report. This report is aimed at providing insights into the behaviour of Australian cryptocurrency investors in FY2021.

    Interestingly, the data points to an increased interest in the likes of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) among people 60 years of age and older.

    This challenges the stereotype that the sole demographic of crypto investors is young males.

    Cryptocurrency as an alternative asset

    As Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies surpass more than 10 years of existence, previous naysayers are beginning to open up to the idea of investing. Generally, it had been younger people who served as early adopters of blockchain-based investments. However, BTC Markets’ recent report suggests older demographics are making a foray into the world of crypto.

    While people between the age of 25 and 43 years old still make up the majority of users of the BTC Markets exchange at 69%, those above the age of 60 are growing at a substantial rate. According to the report, this demographic of crypto exchange users increased 15% year-over-year. In fact, the rate of growth outpaced the increase in users between 25 and 43 years of age.

    The data indicated that the demographic is trading less frequently than its younger peers. However, these more senior investors are dishing out a greater amount of dosh into their digital investments.

    For example, the 25 to 43-year-old age group on average traded 6 times daily compared to the over 65’s 4 times. Though the older group poured in more than twice as much money on average than their younger peers, at $4,349 compared to $3,263.

    BTC Markets justifies the discrepancy in investment amount by stating, “As baby boomers, they [the over 65-years-old demographic] have accumulated assets and disposable income, so are not worried about allocating a percentage of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies.”

    Commenting on these findings, BTC Markets CEO Caroline Bowler said:

    Australians aged over 60 are seriously developing investment strategies for their post-work years as they approach retirement. A low interest rate environment is a key factor behind them seeking investment opportunities in alternative assets like cryptocurrency.

    Creeping into SMSFs

    Another indication that the speculative asset is making inroads with more investors, BTC Markets reported a large surge in the number of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) using the platform. The cryptocurrency exchange reported a 95% increase in users operating under an SMSF in FY21.

    Additionally, these retirement funds also upped the ante in the amount being invested. Reportedly, the exchange witnessed a 145% increase in the average portfolio size year-over-year.

    Given this, BTC Markets suggests that people are holding a long-term bullish sentiment towards cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    The post Cryptocurrencies are making their way into more retiree portfolios 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 Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. 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 midday update: Pilbara Minerals jumps, bank shares fall

    holding up phone in front of stock market

    At lunch on Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed the lead of US markets and is tumbling lower. The benchmark index is currently down 0.55% to 7,396.4 points.

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

    Pilbara Minerals shares surge higher

    The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is surging higher today. This follows the release of very positive results from its second lithium spodumene concentrate digital auction. According to the update, the lithium miner received a bid of US$2,240/dmt for 8,000 dmt of its spodumene concentrate. This was almost double what it received at its inaugural auction last month, which highlights the insatiable demand for battery making ingredients.

    Bank shares slide

    The big four banks are all under pressure on Wednesday and are weighing on the ASX 200 index. The worst performer in the group has been the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price with a decline of 0.6%. This follows a tough night for US banks, which saw the likes of Bank of America and Citigroup fall around 2.5%.

    Mining shares fall

    The biggest drag on the ASX 200 index on Wednesday has been the resources sector. Miners such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) are trading notably lower after pullbacks in the prices of a number of commodities overnight. Copper fell 1.2%, iron ore also fell 1.2%, and aluminium dropped 4%.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 index on Wednesday has been the Pilbara Minerals share price with a 9% gain. This follows its highly successful lithium auction. The worst performer has been the AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price with a 6.5% decline. This is despite there being no news out of the energy company.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Pilbara Minerals jumps, bank shares fall 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 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 the BlueBet (ASX:BBT) share price has lost 8% in a week

    Man open mouthed looking shocked while holding betting slip

    The BlueBet Holdings Ltd (ASX: BBT) share price has had a torrid past week.

    In the last 7 days, shares in the wagering company have tumbled more than 8%.   

    Let’s take a look at what’s been dragging the BlueBet share price lower.   

    BlueBet shares tank on US expansion blows

    Shares in BlueBet have struggled in the past week, tanking more than 8% since last Wednesday.  

    Despite not releasing any price-sensitive news in the past week, much of the selling is attributable to a couple of catalysts.  

    Earlier this month, BlueBet announced a blow to its US expansion plans, hammering the share price.

    The mobile sports betting company announced that it had withdrawn its application for a sports betting permit in Virginia.

    On advice from the regulator, Virginia Lottery, BlueBet pulled out of the licencing process.

    The regulator noted that licences are granted to operators with experience in other US states.

    The BlueBet share price received another setback late last month following an unsuccessful application for online sports betting in the state of Arizona.

    More on the BlueBet share price

    BlueBet is a mobile and online bookmaker that provides wagering products on Australian and international racing and sports.

    The wagering company’s products include 31 sports in Australia and internationally, plus entertainment and politics markets.

    The company’s products are powered by a cloud-based technology platform.

    Before its recent slump, shares in BlueBet were flying at all-time highs.

    Despite setbacks in its US expansion plans, the wagering company was buoyed by solid results for FY21.

    An 83.3% increase in revenue of $344.7 million was a highlight in BlueBet’s full-year report.

    Other highlights from the company’s report included:

    BlueBet noted that results for FY21 exceeded its prospectus forecasts and were driven by strong growth in Australian market share.

    The company also highlighted its plans to expand into the lucrative US market.

    At the time of writing, shares in BlueBet are trading more than 2% higher for the day.

    The post Why the BlueBet (ASX:BBT) share price has lost 8% in a week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BlueBet, 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 BlueBet 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 Nikhil Gangaram 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 BlueBet 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/2YOstkm