• ASX 200 midday update: Energy shares drop, Resolute jumps, Xero higher

    A share market investment manager monitors share price movements on his mobile phone and laptop

    At lunch on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fought back from a soft start and is pushing higher. The benchmark index is currently up 0.15% to 7,514.8 points.

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

    Energy shares drag on the ASX 200

    Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), and other ASX 200 energy shares are trading lower today and acting as a drag on the ASX 200. This follows a pullback in oil prices overnight after a build-up in US stockpiles. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 3.7% to US$67.98 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 3% to US$70.20 a barrel.

    Resolute Mining offloads troubled asset

    The Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) share price is storming higher today. This follows news that the gold miner has finally found an acceptable buyer for its interest in the Bibiani mine in Ghana. According to the release, Resolute has agreed to sell the mine to Asante Gold Corporation for $90 million in cash. Positively, this agreement has received Ministerial Consent. Earlier this year the Minister had blocked the sale of the asset to China’s Chifeng Jilong for ~$105 million.

    Xero shares higher following bullish broker note

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price is pushing higher today. This follows a positive reaction by Goldman Sachs to the launch of the cloud accounting platform provider’s App Store in the ANZ and UK markets. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $165.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the Resolute Mining share price with a 5% gain. This follows the announcement of an agreement to sell its interest in the Bibiani Mine. The worst performer on the ASX 200 has been the Santos share price with a 2% decline following the weakness in oil prices.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Energy shares drop, Resolute jumps, Xero higher 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 May 24th 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. owns shares of and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Xero. 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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  • Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price hits new all-time high on renewed API interest

    a woman drawing image on wall of big fish about to eat a small fish

    The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price has hit a new all-time high this morning. This comes after The Australian reported the conglomerate was seeking due diligence information from Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API) to potentially make a new takeover bid.

    At the time of writing, shares in the retail and industry giant are trading for $63.15 – up 0.95%. Earlier they hit the record price of $63.25. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), meanwhile is 0.11% higher.

    API rejected Wesfarmers previous offer last week for $1.38 per share, saying it “undervalues API, is not compelling and is not in the best interests of API shareholders”.

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

    More information please

    According to The Australian’s report, Wesfarmers management has reached out to API “for some confidential information about the company so it can lift its offer for the business”.

    Apparently, Wesfarmers would only be willing to increase its offer with additional price-sensitive information that is not available to the market.

    When API rejected the Perth-based business’ offer last Thursday, the Wesfarmers share price fell.

    At the time, API said the offer of an 18.7% premium to its 3-month volume weighted average price was “significantly below the Australian market average for transactions of this nature”. The board also said Wesfarmers bid was “opportunistic” as COVID has had a detrimental impact on the company’s operations.

    It also felt its portfolio of complementary wholesale and retail businesses was strategically well-positioned in the growing health, wellness, and beauty sector.

    In addition, API noted the potential of its investment in 39 new ‘Clear Skincare’ clinics over the past 3 years.

    The Australian reports that API shareholders are optimistic Wesfarmers will negotiate a higher suitable offer for the takeover.

    Wesfarmers share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Wesfarmers share price has increased 35.7%. It has outperformed the ASX 200 by 10 percentage points during that time period.

    Year-to-date, Wesfarmers shares have appreciated 22.2%. The company will release its full-year results on 27 August.

    Wesfarmers has a market capitalisation of around $70.9 billion.

    The post Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price hits new all-time high on renewed API interest 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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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  • Why is the Santos (ASX:STO) share price slipping today?

    sad looking petroleum worker standing next to oil drill

    The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is in the red today as the price of oil falls and rumours swirl that Santos has attracted buyers for its Dorado project.

    Despite ending last week trade trading for US$76.33 per barrel, the price of brent crude oil has slipped to US$70.53 per barrel. The WTI crude oil price hasn’t fared any better. It’s currently US$68.28 per barrel, down from US$73.95.

    Additionally, Santos’ Dorado project has reportedly received interest from Mitsui and Mitsubishi.

    Right now, the Santos share price is slipping. It’s fallen 1.55% so far today to trade at $6.36 per share.

    Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving Santos’ shares lower.

    What’s with the Santos share price?

    Asset sales

    The Santos share price is falling amid reports the company is getting ready to sell part of its share in the Dorado project, located in Western Australia.

    According to reporting by The Australian, Mitsui and Mitsubishi are both interested in purchasing 20% of the project. That will see Santos’ holding in Dorado reduced to 60%.

    The publication stated Santos’ Van Gogh and Pyrenees projects are also on the table.

    Additionally, it said if Santos is successful in taking over Oil Search Ltd (ASX:OSH) it will likely sell more of its assets.

    Oil Price

    The Santos share price is faltering alongside oil prices. The price of oil has been slipping since OPEC+ pledged to increase oil production in the coming months.

    However, that’s likely not the reason for this week’s fall.

    According to today’s reporting by Reuters, increased US oil stockpiles and COVID-19’s Delta variant have weighed on the price of oil this week.

    The outlet stated China and the US – the world’s biggest oil users ­– are struggling to contain large outbreaks of Delta. The health challenge has seen demand in the countries wane.

    Additionally, the increase to US stockpiles has also slowed global demand for oil.

    Santos share price snapshot

    It’s likely no surprise the Santos share price has been struggling lately.  

    It has fallen 11% over the last month alone. Santos’ shares are now trading for about 1% less than they were at the start of 2021. However, they have gained 15% since this time last year.

    The post Why is the Santos (ASX:STO) share price slipping today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • Tesoro (ASX:TSO) share price shoots higher on drill results

    Monadelphous share price rio tintoA happy miner in front of a massive drilling rig, indicating a share price lift for ASX mining companies

    The Tesoro Resources Ltd (ASX: TSO) share price is in the green today after the company revealed exceptional drilling results.

    At the time of writing, Tesoro shares are travelling 1.74% higher to 11.7 cents. Earlier today, they hit an intraday high of 12.5 cents, up 8%.

    What were the results?

    In its release, Tesoro provided assay results from the Ternera Gold Deposit located at the El Zorro Gold Project, Chile.

    The assays were collected from a total of 13 exploration diamond drilling holes, highlighting strong mineralisation.

    In particular, 8 holes testing the western margin of Ternera, demonstrated the potential of mineral resource expansion. The results returned zones of gold mineralisation including a 67-metre intercept at 3.44 grams per tonne of gold.

    At present, there are 6 drill rigs working around the clock, with 4 rigs at Ternera, and the remaining 2 rigs at Ternera East. The company is targeting a resource upgrade to the Indicated category before the end of the calendar year.

    So far, Tesoro has completed 207 diamond drill holes at the El Zorro Gold Project, equating to 63,698 metres.

    The company is waiting on assays from another 49 diamond drill holes.

    Tesoro managing director, Zeff Reeves touched on the findings, saying:

    These results confirm our firm belief that the Ternera Gold Deposit will rapidly grow beyond the recently released 660koz gold Mineral Resource already defined.

    The 8 holes from along the western margin of the deposit are particularly encouraging as they all fall outside the existing Resource Model and define a new north south fault zone which is well mineralised, particularly to the south.

    Infill drilling continues to inform the model as we rapidly move to a Mineral Resource upgrade during 2021, defining what we see as a large-scale open pit gold deposit.

    About the Tesoro share price

    Over the last 12 months, Tesoro shares have fallen around 36%, with year-to-date down more than 60%. The company’s share price hit a 52-week low of 9.6 cents in late July, before rebounding higher.

    Tesoro has a market capitalisation of roughly $57.4 million, with close to 500 million shares outstanding.

    The post Tesoro (ASX:TSO) share price shoots higher on drill results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Tesoro, 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 Tesoro 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 May 24th 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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  • Why Facebook stock moved higher on Wednesday

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    facebook ceo mark zuckerberg

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    What happened

    Shares of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) rose more than 2% as of 3:30 p.m. EDT. This increase comes even as the S&P 500 was down 0.3% as of this writing.

    The stock is likely up primarily due to an overall bullish day for many growth stocks like Facebook.

    So what

    Explaining some of Facebook stock’s move higher, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was up 0.2% as of this writing. Many tech stocks were up on Wednesday and many growth tech stocks rose several percentage points or more.

    Tech may be doing well for a number of reasons, including worries that the delta variant of the coronavirus will lead to more people staying at home and spending more time on the internet. Many tech stocks benefited from lockdowns in 2020.

    But Facebook’s advertising-driven business performs better in a thriving economy, hence its second-quarter revenue growth rate of 56%. This was driven by higher advertiser demand. Its user base, however, did grow nicely during lockdowns.

    The stock’s gain on Wednesday could also reflect a continuation of a generally bullish trend for Facebook stock over the last six months as demand for the stock rises.

    Now what

    Facebook warned in its second-quarter earnings release that growth will decelerate in the second half of 2021 as the company laps more difficult year-over-year comparisons. This, of course, is the case for most digital advertising companies.

    Investors shouldn’t get too tied up in trying to justify a stock’s daily moves. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say there’s healthy demand for Facebook stock, with the company now commanding a market capitalization greater than $1 trillion.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Why Facebook stock moved higher on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Facebook, 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 Facebook 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Daniel Sparks has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. His clients may own shares of the companies mentioned. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Facebook. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Facebook. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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  • Xero (ASX:XRO) share price rises on app store news and broker note

    A hipster dude leaps in the air with glee, seeing positive news on his tablet.

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price has been a positive performer on Thursday morning.

    At the time of writing, the cloud accounting platform provider’s shares are up 2% to $148.70.

    Why is the Xero share price pushing higher?

    The catalyst for the rise in the Xero share price on Thursday appears to have been a positive broker note out of Goldman Sachs.

    According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $165.00 price target on the company’s shares.

    Based on the current Xero share price, this implies potential upside of 11% over the next 12 months.

    What did the broker say?

    Goldman notes that Xero has launched the Xero App Store across the ANZ and UK markets. This is part of the company’s plan to streamline and simplify access to the ~1,000 apps currently available in its ecosystem.

    Much like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, this change has seen a 15% app store fee introduced for app subscriptions purchased through it store. This means that from today, new apps will incur these charges, while existing applications will be migrated onto the new terms over the next 12 months. App store partners that sell directly to Xero customers through other channels will not be required to pay the 15% app store fee.

    A positive step

    Goldman Sachs has previously stated that it is bullish on the Xero share price partly due to its belief that the monetisation of its app ecosystem has the potential to underpin very strong revenue growth over the next decade and beyond. As a result, the broker sees this move as a positive step.

    It commented: “We see this as a positive step from Xero, which is increasingly focused on monetizing its strong market positions within the ANZ and UK markets, with the incremental revenues used to accelerate its ongoing global expansion.”

    “We previously outlined our belief that a 10-15% app-store fee was possible for Xero, given this would provide consistency across the Xero app developers to incentivize continued investment, while being comparable to a number of digital marketplaces globally who have app fees ranging from 12% (Epic Games) to 30% (Apple, Google, Steam, etc).”

    “Although the quantum of app attachment rates is uncertain, we estimated that a 15% app store fee could open up an incremental NZ$1.4bn of TAM, with these earnings likely to be 100% margin,” it added.

    The post Xero (ASX:XRO) share price rises on app store news and broker note appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Xero, 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 Xero 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Xero. 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 Immutep (ASX:IMM) share price is charging higher today

    Rising healthcare ASX share price represented by doctor giving thumbs up

    Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM) shares are lifting on Thursday morning following an clinical trial update from the company. At the time of writing, the Immutep share price is trading 2% higher at 51 cents.

    Below we take a look at the ASX healthcare company’s latest news.

    What update did Immutep report?

    The Immutep share price is gaining after the biotechnology company reported the first patient had been dosed in its clinical cancer fighting trial, INSIGHT-003.

    The investigator-initiated trial is taking place at the Institute of Clinical Cancer Research IKF in Germany.

    The first patient dosed has metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma. According to the release, they received “pembrolizumab plus doublet chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) combined with Immutep’s lead product candidate eftilagimod alpha” (efti).

    The company explains that efti is a soluble LAG-3 protein, which is being explored in cancer and infectious disease treatment.

    Commenting on the commencement, chief medical officer Frédéric Triebel said:

    INSIGHT-003 is the first time a triple combination therapy consisting of efti plus anti-PD-1 plus chemo is administered. We are evaluating how efti might boost an approved chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 combination therapy, looking at safety and initial activity. Dosing the first patient in this trial is a significant milestone and it sets the wheels in motion for reporting first data which are currently anticipated in 2022.

    Immutep expects to recruit up to 20 patients with solid tumours for the trial. They’ll receive 30 mg subcutaneous doses of efti every 2 weeks atop standard of care chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 therapy.

    Immutep share price snapshot

    The Immutep share price has been a stellar performer over the past 12 months, up 165%. By comparison the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 27% over that same time.

    Year to date, the Immutep share price has continued to beat the benchmark, up by around 21% so far this calendar year.

    Immutep reached multi-year highs on 4 June, hitting 67 cents per share.

    The post Why the Immutep (ASX:IMM) share price is charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Immutep, 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 Immutep 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    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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  • Square might crash the Afterpay (ASX:APT) and Westpac partnership

    ASX shares COVID the words crash with a declining arrow on top

    The elation for Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) investors is still fresh, yet Square’s (NYSE: SQ) plan to acquire the Australian buy now, pay later (BPNL) is already ruffling feathers. According to the AFR, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is taking a moment for reflection on how the recent development may impact its relationship with its youthful payments peer.

    At the time of writing, the Afterpay share price is off by 0.5% to $126 apiece. This follows a weakening in Square shares in overnight trade.

    Let’s unpack the party-crashing at play here.

    Encroaching on Westpac’s turf

    Square’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of Afterpay has Westpac a little unsettled. In October last year, Australia’s oldest bank revealed a partnership with Afterpay which would see Westpac provide its banking-as-a-service platform to the BNPL contender.

    The offering was expected to be symbiotic – Afterpay gets white-labelled bank accounts and Westpac extracts revenue from the payments shift. However, that was before US-based payments giant Square entered the scene.

    Now Westpac has been unnerved by Afterpay shacking up with the competition. Square commands a larger market capitalisation than the Aussie bank, at US$121 billion. The company is making a conscious move to disrupt traditional banks with its business deposits and loans.

    In an interview with AFR, a Westpac banker said:

    We’re thinking through the strategic implications given Square’s interest in merchant acquiring and business loans.

    Although, the banker also relayed that it was likely Westpac will continue its relationship through the October launch of Afterpay Money.

    What’s next for Afterpay on the ASX

    Finally, if the acquisition of Afterpay goes ahead, shareholders will be given the option of two choices. Firstly, investors can elect to receive full consideration in NYSE-listed Square stock. Alternatively, investors can opt to receive shares in Square via a secondary listing on the ASX.

    The Afterpay share price has rallied 78% over the past year on the ASX. Meanwhile Square pulled an 82% return over the same period.

    The post Square might crash the Afterpay (ASX:APT) and Westpac partnership appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Afterpay, 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 Afterpay 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of AFTERPAY T FPO. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO and Square. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T FPO. 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 Swoop (ASX:SWP) share price is soaring 7% today

    Woman attached to rocket flies into air

    The Swoop Holdings Ltd (ASX: SWP) share price is rocketing after the company announced a new $5 million deal.

    Swoop has won the contract the provide National Broadband Network (NBN) services to Western Australia.

    At the time of writing, the Swoop share price is trading at $1.49, 7.58% higher than its previous closing price.

    Swoop is a newly listed telco. It provides ultra-reliable, high-throughput, flexible fixed internet and telecommunication services.

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news from Swoop.

    Swoop’s new contract

    The Swoop share price is gaining today after it released news of a new 5-year NBN contract.

    Swoop’s wholly-owned subsidiary NodeOne, alongside secure network provider Orro Group, has signed a contract worth more than $5 million.

    Together, the two companies will provide NBN enterprise ethernet to users across Western Australia.

    They will use NodeOne’s direct connectivity to connect more than 150 locations to all 14 of Western Australia’s NBN points of interconnects (POIs).

    Swoop says the contract positions it as a ‘challenger telco’ that can offer multi-site solutions, competitive rates, and local support.

    The company expects the contracted work to be finished by the end of the first half of the 2022 financial year.

    Commentary from management

    Swoop’s CEO Alex West commented on the news driving the company’s share price today. He said:

    The team has been working closely with NBN and Orro Group for some time on this deal and it is an amazing achievement for all parties involved.

    NodeOne are the only WA-based retail service provider with direct connectivity to all the NBN POIs, and when you combine this with the great relationship we have with NBN and Orro Group, our local support and account management teams, it really gave us a unique offering.

    Swoop share price snapshot

    The Swoop share price has gained 19.2% since its initial public offering (IPO) in late May.

    The company has a market capitalisation of around $236 million, with approximately 170 million shares outstanding.

    The post Here’s why the Swoop (ASX:SWP) share price is soaring 7% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Swoop, 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 Swoop 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 May 24th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • The Bendigo Bank (ASX:BEN) share price is gaining. Here’s why

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

    The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is up this morning after the bank released a preview of its profits for the second half of the financial year just been.

    Bendigo Bank stated its profits for the 6 months ended 30 June 2021 will include a net release of its collective provision.

    Right now, the Bendigo Bank share price is trading at $10.51, 0.57% higher than yesterday’s close.

    That’s especially good when compared to the broader market. Right now, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.06%, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has slipped 0.06%.

    Let’s take a look at the latest news from Bendigo Bank.

    Bendigo Bank releases provisions

    The Bendigo Bank share price is gaining following news of an additional $19.4 million worth of half-year profits – sort of. The extra funds will come from its collective provisioning.

    The bank also revealed its credit expenses for the 2021 financial year are $18 million. Prior to the release of the collective provision, they were $37.4 million.

    For comparison, the bank’s credit expenses for the 2020 financial year were $40.9 million before it recognised the impacts of COVID-19.

    A bank’s collective provisions are funds it keeps aside in case of poorly performing loans. The collective provisions are meant to cover the bank’s losses if unspecified loans turn bad unexpectedly.

    Bendigo Bank set aside an extra $127.7 million when COVID-19 began to hit Australia in the pocket in May 2020. The bank also upped its other provisions to put away $148.3 million more in case the economy struggled to bounce back.

    According to Bendigo Bank, the release of some of its collective provisions “reflects the improved economic outlook for the Australian economy”.

    The bank said improved GDP, lower unemployment, and higher housing prices have partially offset the risks associated with Australia’s current lockdowns.

    Finally, the next news that could impact the Bendigo Bank share price is only a matter of weeks away.

    Bendigo Bank will release its full-year results for the 2021 financial year on 16 August.

    Commentary from management

    Bendigo and Adelaide Bank managing director Marnie Baker commented on today’s news, saying:

    We remain fully committed to supporting our customers and their communities through this unique time in history… Our business continues to be well placed even with the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, through a proven strategy, purpose and values, alongside appropriate risk management, and a strong balance sheet and capital base which are all key to our long-term success and sustainability.

    Bendigo Bank share price snapshot

    The Bendigo Bank share price has been performing well lately.

    It has gained around 11% since the start of 2021. It is also 58% higher than it was this time last year.

    The bank has a market capitalisation of around $5.7 billion, with approximately 546 million shares outstanding.

    The post The Bendigo Bank (ASX:BEN) share price is gaining. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    More reading

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

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