• BrainChip (ASX:BRN) share price rises despite CEO selling 9m shares

    asx share price rising on deal represented by hand shake

    The BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) share price is pushing higher on Monday morning.

    At the time of writing, the artificial intelligence (AI) technology company’s shares are up 3% to 49 cents.

    Why is the BrainChip share price on the move?

    Investors are bidding the BrainChip share price higher today despite the company revealing that its Founder and CEO, Peter van der Made, has been offloading shares again.

    According to the release, Mr van der Made has followed up his sale of 5,498,000 shares in June and 1,706,685 shares two weeks ago with a further sale of 8,993,315 shares.

    Based on the BrainChip share price at Friday’s close, these shares were valued at just over $4.3 million.

    Though, potentially due to concerns that the BrainChip share price could tumble on the news, the buyer and seller have agreed that the consideration will be determined at a later date. This will be based on a volume weighted average price.

    Why is the founder selling?

    Given how some investors have big concerns over the valuation of the BrainChip share price and the viability of its technology, having the founder sell a large number of shares isn’t overly confidence-boosting for shareholders.

    However, Mr Van der Made remains positive on the company’s future and notes that he still retains a significant holding.

    He commented: “I remain BrainChip’s largest shareholder, and I have complete confidence in our technology, our company, the management and board. Overall, I have sold a relatively small parcel of shares and retain over 160 million shares in the Company, which represents just over 9% of the total shares on issue. Like all shareholders, I want to see my shareholding appreciate over time, and I am very confident it will. I want to assure you that I am fully committed to BrainChip and I have full confidence and faith in the success of our products, our strategy and out future.”

    These comments appear to have been enough to stop the BrainChip share price from falling today.

    Though, it is worth noting that despite today’s gain, the BrainChip share price is down 26% over the last 12 months.

    The post BrainChip (ASX:BRN) share price rises despite CEO selling 9m shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BrainChip, 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 BrainChip 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 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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  • Qantas (ASX:QAN) share price down after major blow from ACCC

    The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price has slipped in early trading on Monday after it received unfavourable news from the competition watchdog.

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that it has denied permission for the Australian airline to collaborate with Japan Airlines Co Ltd (TYO: 9201) for routes to and from Japan.

    “The ACCC can only authorise an agreement between competitors if it is satisfied the public benefits would outweigh the harm to competition,” said ACCC chair Rod Sims.

    “The alliance did not pass this test.”

    Sims admitted that COVID-19 has presented the aviation industry with unprecedented challenges.

    “Airlines have been severely impacted by the pandemic and this has been a very difficult period for them,” he said.

    “But preserving competition between airlines is the key to the long-term recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors, once international travel restrictions are eased.”

    Qantas shares are down 1.13% at market open at $5.26, after starting Monday at $5.32. The stock has gained 8.35% for the year.

    Virgin Australia’s objection could impact Qantas shares

    A Qantas-JAL collaboration would have allowed the 2 carriers to stop competing on price and service for an initial period of 3 years.

    The ACCC revealed that Qantas’ biggest rival Virgin Airlines submitted an objection to such a proposal.

    Virgin asserted that it would be difficult to compete in Australia-Japan routes if the other 2 airlines were allowed to operate as one big alliance.

    In the year before the coronavirus arrived, Qantas and JAL carried 85% of the passengers between the two countries.

    “We accepted that there was likely to be some short-term benefits from the alliance being able to jointly reinstate services more quickly when borders are reopened, which may initially stimulate tourism,” said Sims.

    “However, the longer-term benefits of competition between airlines are cheaper flights and better services for consumers, which is vital to the recovery of tourism over the coming years.”

    Qantas did not comment on the ACCC decision, other than to post the watchdog’s statement to the ASX.

    The ACCC hinted at its opinion in a draft decision back in May and since then Qantas has opened a new route between Cairns and Tokyo.

    Sims said this suggested Qantas would do fine without an alliance.

    “We think Qantas could commence a new Cairns service without the alliance and the timing of any such service would be best determined by commercial factors in a competitive environment,” he said.

    “Jetstar services on this route are currently planned to start again from February 2022, without the alliance.”

    The post Qantas (ASX:QAN) share price down after major blow from ACCC 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 Tony Yoo owns shares of Qantas Airways Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price is down 13% so far this month

    Two young men jump off a cliff into the water.

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price has been on a continuing decline since late July.

    Shares in the world’s fourth-largest iron ore miner have come under pressure amid the plunging spot price for the steel-making ingredient.

    At Friday’s market close, Fortescue shares ended the day at $18.27. This means that its shares are now down 13% for this month alone.

    More on the iron ore spot price

    After touching a record high of US$219.77 per tonne in July, the iron ore spot price fell off a cliff. Chinese policymakers laid down the rules for its steel producers in an effort to curb reliance on Australian iron ore.

    Chinese mills were instructed to limit 2021 output to no more than 2020 levels, or face harsh consequences.

    As such, the current iron ore price has dropped to US$133.82, a descent of almost 7% in September. But how will this affect the Fortescue share price?

    What does this mean for Fortescue?

    The sharp decrease will no doubt have an impact on Fortescue’s bottom line; however, profits are still expected to be churned out.

    In its full-year results released last month, Fortescue reported its highest-ever annual shipments of 182.2 million tonne of iron ore. Coupled with its industry-leading C1 costs of US$13.93 per wet metric tonne, this still translates to bumper profits.

    The company is forecasting to maintain iron ore shipments for FY22, with a guidance of 180 million to 185 million tonne.

    C1 costs are expected to rise slightly to US$15-US$15.50 per wet metric tonne (based on assumed average exchange rate of AUD:USD 0.75).

    Only time will tell if Fortescue can achieve the above guidance, despite its strong dependence on the Chinese market. If it does miss the mark however, its shares could tumble further.

    Fortescue share price summary

    It has been a rollercoaster ride for Fortescue investors, with its shares reaching all-time highs before sinking to near 52-week lows.

    Over the last 12 months, the company’s share price has moved just 2% higher, with year-to-date down more than 20%.

    Fortescue has a market capitalisation of around $56.2 billion and approximately 3 billion shares on its books.

    The post The Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price is down 13% so far this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue Metals 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 Fortescue Metals 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 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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  • Here’s why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is in focus today

    investigator looking through microscope as part of an investigation

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is on watch this morning amid reports the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched an investigation into increasing global shipping and container costs.

    The competition watchdog is reportedly concerned rising shipping costs, brought about by COVID-19-related disruptions, might dint consumers’ back pockets.

    Wesfarmers’ subsidiary Kmart holds the crown of Australia’s largest importer of shipping containers.

    The Wesfarmers share price finished last week trading at $56.88, 1.5% lower than where it had ended the previous week.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s reporting.

    Global freight hike deemed anti-competitive

    The Wesfarmers share price is in focus today following reports the ACCC is worried businesses, like those owned by the conglomerate, might have to pass shipping expenses onto consumers.

    In its financial year 2021 earnings, Wesfarmers noted it had seen ocean freight charges and delays increase through the year. It stated the higher fees and troubles were due to disruptions and constraints in global supply chains.

    Wesfarmers spent $540 million on freight over the financial year just been. That’s 24% more than in financial year 2020.

    In April, Kmart’s managing director Ian Bailey told the Australian Financial Review the retailer had turned to the spot container market. Bailey said the switch followed simultaneous delays in shipping and increased demand for its products. He told the publication the business wouldn’t pass the added costs onto shoppers.

    However, according to reporting by The Australian, the ACCC is worried about just that.

    The ACCC’s chair, Rod Sims, reportedly said the body is investigating anti-competitive behaviour in the freight system. Sims was quoted as saying:

    There is a limited amount I can say on it, but we are looking at the freight system – particularly the role that containers play.

    According to maritime research and supply chain advisory Drewry, over the year so far, the average cost of a 40-foot container has been US$6,695. That’s 187% more than the five-year average.

    Wesfarmers share price snapshot

    The Wesfarmers share price has been performing well this year.

    It is currently 12% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 26% since this time last year.

    The post Here’s why the Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price is in focus today 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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

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  • HomeCo Daily Needs (ASX:HDN) share price halted on acquisition and guidance upgrade news

    An ASX share investor holds his hand out in a stop sign

    The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) share price won’t be going anywhere on Monday.

    This morning the convenience retail-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) requested a trading halt.

    Why is the HomeCo Daily Needs share price in a trading halt?

    The HomeCo Daily Needs share price was placed in a trading halt this morning so the company could undertake a capital raising.

    According to the release, the company is raising $88.3 million via a fully underwritten placement at an issue price of $1.61 per share. This represents a 3.6% discount to the current HomeCo Daily Needs share price.

    Why is the company raising funds?

    The company is raising capital to partially fund the acquisition of a 100% interest in six daily needs assets for a total purchase price of $222 million. This represents a weighted average acquisition capitalisation rate of 5.78%.

    The release explains that these assets have 80% exposure to major national tenants. This includes retailers such as Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), and Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL).

    In addition, management notes that the acquisition increases exposure to strategic growth corridors and accretive brownfield development opportunities.

    Another positive is the highly secure income these assets provide. This is via long weighted average lease expiries (WALE) of 7.1 years, a 99.5% occupancy rate, and a fixed WARR of 3.3%.

    HomeCo Daily Needs’ Fund Portfolio Manager, Paul Doherty, commented: “The acquisitions and placement announced today are consistent with HDN’s strategy to secure high-quality daily needs focused assets which complement our model portfolio and deliver stable and growing distributions.”

    “The acquisition properties were all secured off market and offer highly defensive and growing income streams via long-term leases to major national tenants, high occupancy and embedded rental growth through fixed annual rental reviews of 3.3%. Furthermore, the assets are strategically located in key growth corridors with low site coverage, which provides further upside potential from future accretive brownfield development.”

    Guidance upgrade

    Also potentially giving the HomeCo Daily Needs share price a boost is management’s guidance. It is expecting the acquisitions to be accretive to its funds from operations (FFO) in FY 2022.

    Management is forecasting 3% accretion to its FFO per share in FY 2022. As a result, it has lifted its distribution guidance from 8 cents per share to 8.25 per share.

    Based on the latest HomeCo Daily Needs share price of $1.66, this will mean a yield of 5% for investors.

    The post HomeCo Daily Needs (ASX:HDN) share price halted on acquisition and guidance upgrade news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in HomeCo Daily Needs right now?

    Before you consider HomeCo Daily Needs, 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 HomeCo Daily Needs 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 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 shares of and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET and Super Retail Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • It’s been a rollercoaster for the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price over the last 6 months

    Scared people on a rollercoaster holdingon for dear life, indicating a plummeting share price

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has been on a rollercoaster ride in 2021. Shares in the Aussie bank are up 4.4% in the last 6 months but 30.7% since the start of the year.

    So, what’s been happening for the ASX bank share in recent times?

    Why the Westpac share price is on a rollercoaster ride

    The year started off strongly for shareholders as the Westpac share price surged higher in the first six weeks of the year.

    From January 4 to February 18, shares in the Aussie bank rocketed 24.2% higher. That’s despite the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) climbing just 3% in that same period.

    Interestingly, there were no price-sensitive announcements from the bank until its first quarter update on 17 February. There was minimal activity from Westpac once again until its 3 May half-year results release.

    Some of the big takeaways from the result include:

    • Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) up 189% on the prior corresponding period (pcp) to $3,443 million
    • Cash earnings up 256% on pcp to $3,537 million
    • Return on equity increased to 10.2%
    • Net interest margin down 4 basis points on pcp to 2.09%

    The Westpac share price has muddled along in the months since. Shares in the Aussie bank have climbed just 4.4% in the last 6 months and are underperforming the benchmark Aussie index.

    Recent months have been eventful for shareholders with a number of announcements and big changes at the bank.

    The bank has provided an update on Westpac New Zealand and announced it will hold onto the trans-Tasman subsidiary. Another major announcement moving the Westpac share price was the uncovering of potential fraud.

    Westpac initiated proceedings against Forum Finance in July after reporting a potential exposure of around $200 million after tax from the alleged fraud.

    There was also the $87 million in compensation unveiled for failing to provide critical information to customers in its financial advice business between 2005 and 2019.

    The Westpac share price was once again one to watch after selling its Westpac Life New Zealand business in early July after the A$373 million sale of its general insurance business to Allianz.

    The post It’s been a rollercoaster for the Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price over the last 6 months 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 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 the Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price has outperformed Wesfarmers so far this year

    retail shares

    The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price has been trotting on an upwards trajectory until recently. The conglomerate’s shares hit a record high of $42.66 on 20 August before some profit-taking swooped in.

    Similarly, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) has suffered the same fate although tracking lower around the same time. The company’s shares reached an all-time high of $67.20, also on 20 August.

    However, when looking at year-to-date, Woolworths shares have edged 14% higher while Wesfarmers shares have gained 12%.

    Woolworths expands customer offering, seizes growth opportunities

    While many businesses have been severely impacted by COVID-19, it has been a different story for Woolworths.

    The business has trialled or implemented a range of initiatives, focusing on customer convenience.

    Last month, Woolworths announced it teamed up with Uber Eats to offer same hour grocery delivery across Australia. The partnership centred on delivering groceries, fruits and vegetables to customers at short notice.

    Another feature, the contactless direct to boot pick-up service grew to 379 sites, bringing the total to 629 stores. Direct to boot offers customers the opportunity to order online and have a personal shopper fill the order in-store. The forward-thinking measure is another example the company has executed to attract new market share.

    And if that’s not enough, Woolworths launched a trial of 4 temperature-controlled self-service lockers.

    Clearly, the company is adapting and taking advantage of changing consumer trends during the pandemic. This has led to bumper earnings for Woolworths which has had an overall positive effect on its shares.

    Is the Woolworths share price a buy?

    Since the release of its full-year results, a number of brokers have weighed in on the company’s shares.

    Australia’s leading investment house, Morgans, raised its price target for Woolworths shares by 4.9% to $38.40. Following suit, Macquarie had a more bullish outlook, adding 7.8% to $41.50.

    Furthermore, analysts at Citi increased its rating by 2.6% to $40.60 apiece. Based on the current Woolworths share price of $39.66, this implies a slight upside of 2.3%.

    Woolworths has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 32.57, meaning investors are willing to pay $32.57 for every $1 in earnings. It’s evident there are high-growth expectations for the company in the near-term future.

    The post Why the Woolworths (ASX:WOW) share price has outperformed Wesfarmers so far this year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Woolworths, 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 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 owns shares of 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.

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  • These 8 ASX shares are going ex-dividend this week

    A man takes his dividend and leaps for joy.

    If one of your ASX shares goes ex-dividend, it’s one of the best reasons to have the price of your shares go down. Nothing is free in this world, and so if new shareholders of a company don’t get to receive a dividend, then that reality will be reflected in the share price.

    So here are some of the most prominent ASX shares that are going ex-dividend this coming week.

    8 ASX dividend shares are going ex-dividend this week

    HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

    Wealth manager HUB24 is going ex-dividend this week, today to be precise. HUB24 is set to shell out 5.5 cents per share, fully franked, on 15 October. At the last HUB24 share price of $29.19 the company has a dividend yield of 0.34%.

    L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF)

    This listed investment company (LIC) is one of the largest on the ASX, despite its age of approximately 3 years.

    It will be paying out a 3 cents-per-share dividend, fully franked, on 1 October after it trades ex-dividend today. At the last Long Short Fund share price of $2.75, the company has a dividend yield of 1.64%.

    Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR)

    Tassal shares are going ex-dividend on Tuesday for this salmon producers’ final dividend for FY21 of 3 cents per share, fully franked. At the last Tassal share price of $3.56, the company has a dividend yield of 3.93%.

    TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG)

    Telecom company TPG is next up. This telco’s shares are also going ex-dividend on Tuesday.

    TPG’s interim dividend will come out at 8 cents per share, fully franked, on 13 October. At the last TPG share price of $6.64, the company has a dividend yield of 2.41%.

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    Home appliance company Breville trades ex-dividend on Tuesday for the company’s final dividend of 13.5 cents per share, fully franked, which will be paid out on 7 October. At the last Breville share price of $30.35, the company has a dividend yield of 0.87%.

    News Corporation (ASX: NWS)

    Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is our last Tuesday ex-dividend share.

    Shareholders can look forward to receiving their cash payment of 9.47 cents per share, unfranked, on 13 October. At News Corp’s last share price of $29.50, the company has a dividend yield of 0.77%.

    Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW)

    Recently made famous for its shenanigans with Boral Limited (ASX: BLD), Seven Group is another company trading ex-dividend this week, specifically on Thursday.

    Shareholders can look forward to receiving their 23 cents-per-share dividend, fully franked, on 29 October (clearly the Seven board isn’t into superstition). At the last Seven Group share price of $20.70, the company has a dividend yield of 2.22%.

    Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CAR)

    Carsales shareholders will be, er, driving away… with their fully franked 22.5 cents-per-share final FY21 dividend on 18 October after it trades ex-dividend on Friday. At the last Carsales share price of $25.25, the company has a dividend yield of 1.87%.

    The post These 8 ASX shares are going ex-dividend this week 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 Sebastian Bowen 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 Hub24 Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24 Ltd, TPG Telecom Limited, and carsales.com 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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  • Want to invest in space? Here are 4 ASX shares

    A rocket blasts off into space with planet behind it.

    As billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson blasted off for joy flights this year, investors’ thoughts have turned to space.

    For many decades, the prohibitive cost of sending humans outside earth meant space travel was monopolised by the public sector.

    But this is no longer the case, according to Nucleus Wealth head of investments Damien Klassen.

    “For me, what is incredible is the pace of cost reductions being seen in the sector,” he said on the Nucleus blog. 

    “Elon Musk’s SpaceX has brought the cost of launching equipment into space down by a factor of 10. And there is a realistic roadmap to bringing it down by another factor of 10.”

    He pointed out that only 20 years ago solar power was “a novelty”, but after dramatic cost reductions, it is now transforming the energy industry.

    “The question is, what sectors could be affected by a similar change? What emerging trends should we be watching today?” 

    Klassen said the entry of the private sector makes the new space race very exciting.

    “Plus it is an interesting hedge on the continued souring of US-China relations. If the space sector isn’t at least on your radar, it should be.”

    How to get exposure to the space sector

    There are many ways to invest in the space industry in overseas markets.

    Mammoth US defence contractors, like Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), are one path.

    “But space investment is only a part of a very large company. And they are often not working on some of the cutting edge technology.”

    Klassen mentioned that there are a couple of space-themed exchange-traded funds in the US too: Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ: UFO) and ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (BATS: ARKX).

    But as for ASX shares, he named 4 companies.

    Electro Optic Systems Hldg Ltd (ASX: EOS) is the biggest of the crew,” said Klassen.

    Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN), Xtek Ltd (ASX: XTE), and Kleos Space SA (ASX: KSS) round it out.”

    The Australian companies are small caps, so there is considerable risk compared to the much larger overseas investments.

    “If you are looking for Australian stocks, then be prepared for some red ink on your P&L,” Klassen said.

    “You need to be comfortable with the product and see a path to profitability.”

    He warned investors to avoid buying “a dream”.

    “If there is another space race, you can expect most defence contractors to benefit. That will not be the case for smaller stocks.”

    Electro Optic Systems shares have lost 37% for the year, while Xtek has shaved 26% off its value. Meanwhile, Brainchip has gained 10.5% so far in 2021 and Kleos Space has returned a handsome 56.5%.

    The post Want to invest in space? Here are 4 ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns shares of Brainchip Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Electro Optic Systems Holdings 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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  • Sydney Airport (ASX:SYD) share price on watch after new takeover approach

    Airport

    The Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD) share price will be one to watch on Monday.

    This follows the release of an update on its takeover approach this morning.

    Why is the Sydney Airport share price on watch?

    The Sydney Airport share price could be heading higher today after it announced the receipt of a revised indicative, conditional and non-binding proposal from the Sydney Aviation Alliance.

    According to the release, the Sydney Aviation Alliance has proposed to acquire the airport operator by way of scheme of arrangement and trust scheme at an indicative price of $8.75 cash per stapled security.

    This represents a 9.4% premium to the Sydney Airport share price at Friday’s close. It is also an increase on Sydney Aviation Alliance’s previous offers of $8.25 cash per share on 5 July and $8.45 cash per share on 16 August.

    However, unlike the previous offers which were determined not to be in the best interests of Sydney Airport securityholders, the Sydney Airport Board is open to this proposal.

    What was the response?

    The release explains that after taking advice and considering all relevant factors, the Sydney Airport Board intends to grant the Sydney Aviation Alliance the opportunity to conduct due diligence on a non-exclusive basis.

    This is to enable it to put forward a binding proposal, subject to entry into a non-disclosure agreement on acceptable terms. That due diligence is expected to take four weeks from entry into the non-disclosure agreement.

    Should all go to plan and the Sydney Aviation Alliance makes its $8.75 cash per share offer binding and on acceptable terms, the current intention of the Sydney Airport Board is to unanimously recommend that securityholders vote in favour of the proposal.

    This will be in the absence of a superior proposal. It also remains subject to an independent expert concluding that the proposed transaction is in the best interests of Sydney Airport securityholders.

    However, the company has warned that there is no certainty that a binding offer will be made. As a result, Sydney Airport securityholders do not need to take any action in response to this proposal.

    The post Sydney Airport (ASX:SYD) share price on watch after new takeover approach appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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