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  • JD Vance’s wife Usha has SCOTUS ties going back to when she clerked for both John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh

    Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the first day of the Republican National Convention, after Trump picked the senator as his vice presidential nominee.
    Sen. JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the first day of the Republican National Convention, after Trump picked the senator as his vice presidential nominee.

    Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    • Trump has picked JD Vance as his running mate.
    • JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, was a corporate lawyer, but she quit her job on Monday.
    • She does have SCOTUS links, having clerked for Supreme Court judges John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh.

    All eyes were on Sen. JD Vance of Ohio when former President Donald Trump picked him as running mate for the 2024 race.

    But his wife, lawyer Usha Chilukuri Vance, is also accomplished in her own right — and has links to the US Supreme Court.

    Born to Indian immigrant parents and raised in the San Diego suburbs, Usha Vance went to Yale Law School with the Ohio senator.

    She worked as a corporate litigator for Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.

    Usha Vance told news outlet SFGate on Monday that she was resigning from her role at the firm.

    "In light of today's news, I have resigned from my position at Munger, Tolles & Olson to focus on caring for our family," she told SFGate.

    Ties to John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh

    The potential future second lady has ties to the SCOTUS, having clerked for Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh between 2014 and 2015 and Chief Justice John Roberts between 2017 and 2018.

    The two judges are both staunch conservatives.

    Trump nominated the controversial Kavanaugh to the SCOTUS during his presidential term, and the judge took his seat in October 2018.

    Roberts and Kavanaugh were also part of the court majority that handed Trump a win in his immunity case. A lower court will now decide how the SCOTUS ruling will affect special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

    "We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power requires that a former President have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office," Roberts wrote in the July decision on behalf of the majority.

    "At least with respect to the President's exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute."

    JD Vance's turn to Trump

    Sen. Vance, 39, was once a Trump critic. According to leaked text messages from 2016, he once told his college roommate that he feared Trump might become "America's Hitler."

    Now Sen. Vance — also the author of the bestseller memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy" — has made it clear that if elected vice president, he intends to be a Trump loyalist.

    In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Monday night, he said: "I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, but President Trump was a great president, and he changed my mind."

    For his part, Trump seems happy with his choice.

    "As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump said when announcing his pick on Truth Social on Monday.

    Usha Vance and the Vance campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Putin wants to strengthen a big challenger to Western dominance

    Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin has been talking about a BRICS parliament.

    Getty Images

    • Russian President Vladimir Putin is eyeing a bigger global role for the BRICS bloc.
    • Putin recently raised the possibility of a BRICS parliament, which would formalize the group.
    • BRICS, chaired by Russia this year, is expanding with new members from the Global South.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has set his sights on a bigger role for a group of emerging nations as he seeks to topple the West-led world order.

    The group is known as BRICS for original members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively form the bloc's acronym. New members include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates.

    BRICS was formed in 2009 with its first summit. The group founded the Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank in 2015 and was largely an informal grouping until recently. It's now positioning itself as a counterweight to the G7 and the West amid increasing geopolitical tensions globally.

    Putin recently weighed in on the structure of the group.

    "BRICS does not have its own official parliamentary organization at this stage, but I believe that this idea will definitely be materialized somewhere down the road," Putin said last Thursday at the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St Petersburg, according to an official transcript from the Kremlin.

    Putin did not elaborate on how this structure would work, but his comments illustrate how Russia is using its position as BRICS chair this year to bolster the group. A parliamentary structure would formalize the group even further.

    His comments come amid increasing interest in the bloc from the Global South.

    Just last month, the Southeast Asian nations of Thailand and Malaysia said they were interested in joining the bloc. Thailand has submitted a formal request for membership, while Malaysia's prime minister said it was preparing to start its application process.

    A larger and more structured BRICS bloc could have more bargaining power and create an alternative to the West-led global order.

    As Rich Lesser, the global chair of the Boston Consulting Group, wrote in a May note, the expanded BRICS bloc — which includes major oil producers Saudi Arabia and UAE — now controls over 40% of the world's oil production, "making it an important international actor."

    It could also help Russia's sanctions-hit economy.

    Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said BRICS countries are developing a payments platform that will allow them to bypass the US dollar.

    Not everybody is convinced about whether BRICS could be an effective counterweight to the West. After all, the BRICS countries' interests do not always align within the group.

    India, for one, is balancing interests among the US, China, and Russia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia recently, even though New Delhi is in a strategic partnership with the US. This is in part because Modi needs Russia as a buffer against China — a BRICS member with whom India has a border dispute.

    But the BRICS group should not be counted out, wrote as Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, in a report earlier this month.

    "BRICS is a low-stakes forum for these countries to meet and talk about common grievances that the US and the West should pay at least slightly more attention to," he wrote.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A woman's hand draws a stylised 'Top Ten' on a projected surface.

    After yesterday’s market euphoria and fresh all-time highs, it was only natural that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a bit of a jolt back to earth this Tuesday.

    And indeed that is what we saw on the markets today. The ASX 200 ended up slipping 0.23% this session, bringing the index down to just below the 8,000-point threshold we saw get broken yesterday to finish at 7,999.3 points.

    This slow day for ASX shares follows a more upbeat start to the American trading week that kicked off last night (our time).

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: DJI) had a strong start to the week, rising 0.53%.

    The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) performed similarly, rising by 0.4%.

    But let’s get back to ASX shares now with a checkup of how the various ASX sectors handled today’s cautious mood.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the markets’ bad mood, a few sectors rose in value. But first, the losers.

    Taking out the worst spot on the leaderboard today was mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was shunned by investors and crashed by 0.93%.

    Utilities stocks were punished as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) tanking 0.88%.

    Tech shares were on the nose too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was sent down 0.88% as well.

    Consumer discretionary stocks weren’t providing any relief, as you’ll see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.82% plunge.

    Energy shares did a little better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) still cratered 0.19%.

    Healthcare stocks were also on the hit list. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lost 0.15% of its value this Tuesday.

    Communications shares came in right behind that, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.14% dip.

    Consumer staples stocks were our final losers of the day. But the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slipped by just 0.01%.

    Turning now to our winning sectors, these were led by real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sailed a happy 0.72% higher this session.

    Industrial shares also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) lifted by a confident 0.22%.

    Gold stocks were in demand as well, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) rising 0.21%.

    Last up, we had financial shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) inched 0.09% higher by the closing bell.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s index leader was property share Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC). Lifestyle stock rebounded by a happy 5.53% today, up to $10.87 a share.

    This move follows yesterday’s 18% plunge after the company was accused of malpractice.

    Here’s how the rest of today’s best shares pulled up:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) $10.87 5.53%
    IRESS Ltd (ASX: IRE) $8.89 5.46%
    Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) $2.37 3.49%
    Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) $106.69 3.45%
    Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) $1.35 3.45%
    HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) $7.68 2.67%
    Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) $20.99 2.64%
    Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) $4.67 2.41%
    Waypoint REIT (ASX: WPR) $2.46 2.07%
    Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) $2.12 1.92%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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. has positions in and has recommended Block, PolyNovo, and Reliance Worldwide. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended PolyNovo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 4 simple habits that will help you keep fit throughout life, from a personal trainer who works with active 90 year olds

    Personal trainer Lauren Hurst and 98-year-old runner George Etzweiler running along a forest path.
    Lauren Hurst and 98-year-old runner George Etzweiler.

    Lauren Hurst

    • People are living longer and want to know how to stay healthy to enjoy those extra years.
    • Starting healthy habits as early as possible can help us to stay fit and active as we age. 
    • Personal trainer Lauren Hurst's advice is to find an activity you love and stick with it.

    People are living longer. By 2050, three times as many people are expected to live to 80 than in 2015, according to the World Health Organization.

    While it's never too late to make positive changes, staying fit and healthy in those extra years requires setting up healthy habits when we're younger.

    Lauren Hurst, a personal trainer who has worked with people of all ages, from kids to nonagenarians, told Business Insider that her oldest clients stayed fit and active by exercising consistently from a young age.

    "Your health is a priority. If you don't have health, you don't have anything," she said.

    Hurst, the author of "North of Forty," a book of interviews with inspirational older athletes, shared some of the best habits to adopt in your young years to help you stay fit for as long as possible.

    Prioritize your health

    Do what you need to do to build fitness into your life — whether that's working out with someone or doing shorter workouts that fit into your schedule. Doing 20-minute workouts three times a week is better than nothing, Hurst said.

    A 2023 study that suggested that just 20 minutes of walking, household chores, and climbing the stairs each day appeared to offset the negative effects of sitting down for 10 or more hours a day.

    Find an activity you enjoy

    "If it's a drag, you're never gonna do it," Hurst said. "If you say you want to be a marathon runner, but you hate it, find something else. Go biking or swimming, or play tennis or dance. Liking your activity is crucial."

    You can even combine physical activity with something else you enjoy, such as watching Instagram reels while walking, Hurst said, as long as it gets you active.

    And it's never too late to try new sports if you haven't found an activity you love yet. BI previously reported on a lawyer who got fit in his 70s and discovered a love for under-ice swimming at 84.

    Lauren Hurst lifting dumbbells.
    Lauren Hurst specializes in personal training for older adults.

    Nick Cinea/ Lauren Hurst

    Be consistent

    Don't stress about trying to work out every day. Instead, decide on an achievable amount of exercise and stick with that, Hurst said.

    "If you say you're going to train three days a week, train three days a week," she said.

    A 2021 study suggested that exercising consistently could help create a sense of purpose in people's lives, which in turn can help motivate them to exercise more in an "upward spiral."

    Nail your technique

    To avoid injury, it's important to develop a good knowledge of how to perform exercises correctly, Hurst said.

    So, if you can, get some training or instruction on how to do your chosen exercises — you don't have to do it forever, but the expense is probably worth it to stop you from getting hurt, she said

    BI previously reported on how to lift weights correctly.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • No savings? I’d use the Warren Buffett method to earn lifelong passive income with ASX shares

    A couple lying down and laughing, symbolising passive income.

    Many people share the dream of earning a lifelong passive income in a world of financial uncertainties. However, without any savings to start with, this goal may seem distant, if not impossible, to achieve. That’s where the wisdom of legendary investor Warren Buffett comes into play.

    Known for his simple yet profoundly effective investment philosophy, Buffett’s approach can be adapted by anyone looking to make their way into the world of investments.

    Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” has built his fortune through making wise investments in undervalued companies with strong business models and potential for long-term growth.

    Save, educate, and invest

    For individuals starting from scratch, the first step towards employing the Buffett method is saving money. Buffett is known for his frugality. He still lives in the same house he bought in 1958 and enjoys McDonald’s breakfast. By leading a simple and frugal lifestyle, you can achieve two goals: better focus on important things in life and creating the initial capital to invest.

    The second step, or what you can do in parallel, is education. In the early days, Buffett used to read the Moody’s Manual, a thick book introducing all listed shares, one company per page, from A to Z, twice.

    He emphasises understanding the businesses you invest in. This means looking beyond share price fluctuations and focusing on the company’s fundamentals, such as its competitive advantages, management quality, financial health, and potential for growth.

    What to consider in choosing ASX dividend shares

    Patience is crucial when using the Warren Buffett method. Buffett is known for his long-term investment strategy, often holding onto his investments for decades. Dividend-paying stocks can be a great way to achieve this long-term investing goal.

    Buffett’s investment vehicle, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B), collects billions of dollars in annual dividends from a handful of companies, including Bank of America Corp, Occidental Petroleum Corp, and Apple Inc.

    In his 2022 shareholder letter, Buffett highlighted:

    In August 1994 – yes, 1994 – Berkshire completed its seven-year purchase of the 400 million shares of Coca-Cola we now own. The total cost was $1.3 billion – then a very meaningful sum at Berkshire.
    The cash dividend we received from Coke in 1994 was $75 million. By 2022, the dividend had increased to $704 million. Growth occurred every year, just as certain as birthdays. All Charlie and I were required to do was cash Coke’s quarterly dividend checks. We expect that those checks are highly likely to grow.

    American Express is much the same story. Berkshire’s purchases of Amex were essentially completed in 1995 and, coincidentally, also cost $1.3 billion. Annual dividends received from this investment have grown from $41 million to $302 million. Those checks, too, seem highly likely to increase.

    ASX dividend shares

    Once you have saved some money to invest, it is time to look for ASX dividend shares similar to Buffett’s. For this purpose, I looked for ASX companies with a solid dividend history, robust business fundamentals, and inexpensive valuations.

    • Washinton H Soul Pattinson (ASX: SOL) has increased its dividends for more than a decade. Currently offering a fully franked dividend yield of 2.6%, it is one of the most loved ASX dividend shares.
    • BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) boasts a dividend yield of 5.5% after the recent weakness in its share price. While the near-term outlook is murky, the mining giant has a time-tested history of dividend payments.
    • Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) is a leader in the insurance broking industry, with a current dividend yield of 2.5%. Its earnings and dividends have demonstrated consistent growth year after year.
    • Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) shares currently offer a fully-franked dividend yield of 2.3%. Based on management estimates, they are valued below the company’s net asset value (NAV).

    While the first step can be daunting, let’s remember that Buffett made his first stock purchase—three shares of Cities Service preferred shares at $38 per share—when he was 11.

    The post No savings? I’d use the Warren Buffett method to earn lifelong passive income with ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bhp Group shares, consider this:

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

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    See The 5 Stocks
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    American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee has positions in Brickworks and Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Brickworks, Steadfast Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks, Steadfast Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • A former FBI official says Secret Service snipers could have mistaken the Trump shooter for a police sniper

    Secret Service agents converge on Trump on the stage of his Pennsylvania campaign rally, while a uniformed agent stands nearby holding a rifle.
    Secret Service agents converge on former President Donald Trump onstage at his Pennsylvania campaign rally.

    Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    • An ex-FBI official says the Secret Service may have had a comms breakdown at the Trump rally shooting.
    • Frank Figliuzzi said agents may have mistaken the shooter for a police sniper.
    • He said security protocols and coordination between the Secret Service and local police need improvement.

    A former FBI official says a communications breakdown between the Secret Service and the local police may be to blame for why President Donald Trump got shot at on Saturday at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally.

    Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI official, said that the Secret Service may have mistaken the shooter for a Butler policeman.

    In an opinion piece published in Daily Mail, he said it was "highly likely" that the Secret Service was "responsible for security within an enclosed perimeter, while the local police took charge of the wider zone outside."

    Figluizzi theorized that Secret Service agents could have mistaken Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, for a police sniper.

    Investigators said that Crooks fired multiple rounds from a rooftop around 150 meters away from Trump using an AR-15 rifle.

    "We know that a Secret Service sniper must have had a clear view of the rooftop because the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead within a few seconds of opening fire on Trump," wrote Figliuzzi.

    "But why did that sniper ignore Crooks till then? One plausible explanation is that the Secret Service (which is entirely separate from the FBI) assumed the assassin was a police sniper, part of their security team," Figliuzzi added.

    He wrote that such a case "implies serious failures in communication."

    "I would expect police and Secret Service teams to not only meet and introduce themselves but map out their specific roles in detail," Figliuzzi said in his opinion piece. "They ought to have been able to recognize each other by sight."

    Figliuzzi also wrote that he disagreed with what the Secret Service agents did during the rally, like letting Trump pause to pose for a photo with his face bloodied or complying with his request to retrieve his shoes.

    "In that moment, the Secret Service had no way of knowing if the gunman was acting alone. Other shooters might have been present," he wrote.

    Figliuzzi served in the FBI for 25 years, working in its Atlanta and Washington, DC headquarters.

    In 2011, he landed the role of assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division. He now works as a news analyst and commentator on MSNBC.

    Other details have since emerged about Crooks. He was a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the center said in a statement obtained by The Hill on Sunday.

    Crooks' ex-classmate also told media outlets that the gunman was such a bad shot that he got rejected from his high school rifle team. But outside school, Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, a club with multiple pistol and rifle ranges in Clairton, Pennsylvania, CBS News reported.

    Crooks' motives for the attack are, at press time, unclear.

    For his part, Trump has emerged emboldened from the botched assassination attempt.

    On Monday evening, he received a hero's welcome at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee when he walked in with a giant bandage on his ear.

    At the RNC, he declared his running mate pick — Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.

    Representatives for the Secret Service and the Butler police did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • A tech stock with a name sounding like ‘Trump’s Big Win’ surged by the maximum in China after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt

    Former President Donald Trump cheers with a gauze patch on his ear at the Republican National Convention.
    Former President Donald Trump attended the Republican National Convention on Monday evening, as his survival of an assassination attempt against him prompted a meme stock's surge in China.

    BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

    • Wisesoft stock surged 10% after former President Trump survived an assassination attempt.
    • Wisesoft, known as a meme stock in China, often sees price jumps linked to Trump events.
    • Chinese retail investors trade Wisesoft shares as a joke, leveraging its Trump-related name.

    A Chinese tech firm with a name that sounds like "Trump's Big Win" enjoyed a surge in its stock price on Monday after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

    Chuanda Zhisheng, also known by its English name Wisesoft, saw its share price rise from 10.20 CNY to 11.22 CNY, or $1.40 increasing to $1.55.

    That's the maximum that the company's shares could have risen on Monday while trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, which limits price changes to 10% per day.

    Wisesoft has a meme stock reputation in China because its Mandarin name comes from Sichuan University, which is known colloquially as "Chuan Da."

    Coincidentally, the Chinese nickname for Trump uses the same character as "Chuan," with "Da" translating to "big."

    The second half of Wisesoft's name means "wise triumph," so the entire moniker can be taken to literally mean "Trump's Big Win" or "Trump's Great Victory."

    Chinese financial news outlet Southern Finance Network reported that a company spokesperson said the reason for Monday's price jump for Wisesoft "couldn't be determined" as nothing had changed in its operations.

    Its intended name is "Sichuan University Wise Victory." The company was founded in 2000 and specializes in using tech and AI for air traffic management.

    The company also saw its share price leap by the maximum daily limit on June 28, the day after President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance against Trump.

    Pockets of Chinese retail investors are known to trade meme stocks simply because their names sound phonetically like references to real-world events. One stock, Goertek, saw its share price rise 2.2% on Monday because its name sounds like "cutting ears," The South China Morning Post reported.

    Wisesoft also saw a one-day 10% share price jump in 2016, when Trump won the presidential election, despite the company suffering from lagging results, Chinese outlet The Global Times reported at the time.

    The share price of another company, Yunnan Xiyi, simultaneously fell 10% in one day because it sounded phonetically similar to "Auntie Hillary," a nickname for then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

    Yunnan Xiyi has changed its name and is now known as Jianshe Industry Group Yunnan.

    Trump was speaking on Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire at him with an AR-style rifle. The former president's right ear was bleeding as Secret Service agents escorted him away, and he later said the ear was struck by a bullet.

    One spectator in the crowd died, while two others were critically injured.

    Trump is often the subject of memes on the Chinese internet, where users lampoon him as secretly working for Beijing to undermine the US and build up China. As a result, social media platforms in the country are often filled with posts jokingly expressing support for the former president.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • 5 ways ASX shares investors define financial success

    A guy wearing glasses tries to show off his muscles.

    ASX shares investors say being debt-free and owning a home are their most important definitions of financial success, according to new research.

    These are the findings of a survey conducted by online trading platform Stake in May.

    Stake surveyed more than 2,000 Australian investors who held either ASX shares or overseas stocks.

    The most popular definition of financial success was being debt-free, according to 86% of respondents.

    It’s likely that being debt-free is even more appealing during today’s cost-of-living crisis!

    Owning a home was the second most popular definition of financial success, with 85% of respondents agreeing that this was a key aspiration.

    Debt-free home ownership is considered essential for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement in Australia.

    But as we all know, getting into the property market can be difficult for many reasons.

    One of them is that values continue to rise faster than most people can save a deposit. For example, in FY24, the median home price rose by $59,000, according to CoreLogic data.

    On top of that, 13 interest rate rises between May 2022 and November 2023 have made it not only difficult to service a loan but also hard to get finance in the first place.

    When assessing loan applications, banks typically add a 3% serviceability buffer. This means most customers today have to prove they can afford an interest rate of 8% or 9% to get a home loan.

    What are the other definitions of financial success?

    The third most popular definition of financial success, with 77% support among ASX shares investors, was being able to live in an area of their choosing.

    This definition may reflect the compromises people are making in the property market as values continue to increase and buyers are forced to seek more affordable accommodation.

    The fourth most desired milestone of financial success is having the capacity to support family members. Three-quarters of survey respondents said this represented financial success to them.

    This reflects the rising role that the Bank of Mum and Dad is playing in Australia’s property market.

    Finally, the fifth most common definition of success among ASX shares investors is having the flexibility to reduce working hours, or quit altogether, and live off one’s investments.

    If you also aspire to this, check out this article by my colleague Sebastian: How much cash do you need to quit work and live off ASX dividend income?

    You can also check out these 7 tips for successful ASX shares investing.

    Which ASX shares are attractive to investors today?

    The Stake survey explored the top investment themes exciting ASX shares investors today.

    Gold was at the top of the list. This was not surprising given the year that ASX gold stocks had in FY24.

    The top three ASX 200 mining shares for price growth last financial year were all gold stocks.

    The survey also revealed the five most popular ASX shares bought by investors over the 12 months to May.

    They included ASX lithium share Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

    On Tuesday, S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares are down 0.16%.

    The post 5 ways ASX shares investors define financial success 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 over ten 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. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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 Scott Phillips.

  • Own the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS)? Here’s how much you’ll get paid today

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX. It’s so widely held, in fact, that VAS has long held the title of the most popular ETF and index fund on the ASX by funds under management for a number of years.

    As such, there will be many ASX investors who will be receiving a paycheque today. That’s because it’s dividend payday for the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF this Tuesday.

    The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF typically pays quarterly dividend distributions rather than the six-month interval that is common on the ASX.

    We first got an idea about what the latest VAS dividend distribution would be late last month. Back on 28 June, Vanguard announced that the latest investor payment for this ETF would be worth 67.21 cents per unit – an amount later confirmed on 1 July.

    That was the same day that VAS units traded ex-dividend on the ASX. So if you didn’t own this ETF at the end of trading on 30 June, you won’t be eligible to receive this latest dividend distribution.

    But for those lucky investors who did make the cut, today is your lucky day.

    If you haven’t already received this cash payment, you will see 67.21 cents for every VAS unit owned arrive sometime today. Like most VAS dividends, this payment will come partially franked, reflecting the mixed nature of its underlying holdings.

    VAS’ latest ASX dividend goes low

    However, this payment might not be as enthusiastically welcomed as some of VAS’s former ASX dividend distributions. That’s because this 67.21 cents per unit payment is well below what VAS’s ASX investors would be used to.

    For one, it pales in comparison to this ETF’s last three quarterly dividend distributions. The quarter ending 31 March saw investors bag 84.79 cents per unit, for example. Before that, investors enjoyed payments worth 71.62 cents and $1.29 per unit, respectively.

    2024’s June quarter distribution is even smaller than the payment investors received this time last year. 2023’s June distribution came to 88.9 cents per share. So this year’s paycheque is in effect a 24.4% pay cut from last year.

    But there’s not a lot Vanguard could have done about that. Like all ETFs, VAS can only pass on what it receives in dividend income from its underlying holdings. So the fact that this month’s distribution is so low is more of a reflection of the dividends it has enjoyed from its top holdings, like the big four banks, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

    But saying that, the passive income from an ASX index fund like VAS is usually quite volatile. So long-term investors would be used to their dividend distributions coming in ebbs and flows.

    This latest dividend distribution from VAS takes this ASX ETF’s annual distribution total to $3.52 per unit. At the current VAS unit price of $99.06 (at the time of writing), this gives the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF a dividend yield of 3.55%.

    The post Own the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS)? Here’s how much you’ll get paid today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL, Wesfarmers and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Big ASX news! DroneShield share price crashes 31%

    drone stuck in a tree representing crashing Aerometrix share price

    It’s been a fairly ho-hum day on the ASX so far this Tuesday. Fresh from cracking a new all-time record of 8,281.4 points yesterday, the All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) Index is currently down 0.07%. But let’s talk about what’s happening with the DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) share price. 

    As one might expect, most ASX All Ords shares are having a pretty average day, apart from some new highs from the ASX banks. But the Droneshield share price’s day has been anything but ordinary. Unfortunately, it’s not good news for the true believers in this ASX defence stock.

    Droneshield closed at $2.60 a share yesterday afternoon after enjoying an 11.11% bounce on Monday’s session. But today, it has been a very different story. Things started well for the company, with Droneshield opening at $1.71 before hitting yet another fresh new record high of $2.72 soon after open.

    But that’s when the selling started. After less than 30 minutes of trading, the Droneshield share price was back in the red. Things didn’t look too dire by midday, which had the company drop down to $2.53 a share.

    However, investors seemed to have gotten a bad case of the afternoon blues soon after. Selling quickly accelerated. The Droneshield share price dropped below $2.40, then $2.20 and finally $2.

    At the time of writing, the company has gone into a trading halt, but not before losing an astonishing 28.5% of its value and coming to a stop at $1.86 a share. That’s after getting as low as $1.79 in earlier trading, a drop worth more than 31%.

    So what on earth is going on with the Droneshield share price that has caused investors to wipe off more than a quarter of this company’s value in just a few short trading hours?

    Why have DroneShield shares tanked by 31% today?

    Unfortunately for lovers of certainty and logic, it’s a gosh darn mystery. Prior to the request for the trading halt, Droneshield had not made any fresh news or announcements today. In fact, we haven’t had any major news from the company for almost a month.

    There doesn’t appear to be any other news out regarding Droneshield either.

    So all we can do at this point is speculate and wait for further updates.

    It is possible that some investors have finally decided to take some gains off the table, sparking a rush to get out of the stock today.

    Today’s drop does look dire. But investors have been raking in the profits (at least on paper) from Droneshield for months now.

    Remember, this is a company that has risen from 38 cents a share at the start of 2020 to the record high of $2.72 that we saw this morning. That’s a gain worth over 615%. Even after today’s drop, the Droneshield share price remains up by around 400% year to date.

    As of yesterday’s close, the Droneshield share price was also up close to 80% over the past month alone and had risen 20% just last week. Check all of that out for yourself below:

    Too hot to handle?

    Deep down, most investors know that gains like these are rare on the ASX and don’t typically last too long without a pullback. So it was arguably only a matter of time before some investors started to blink and pull money off the table. This could have caused a cascade effect, sparking a rush for the exits.

    At this point, that’s the best explanation we have as to why Droneshield has suddenly cratered in value today after such a strong run.

    Even so, long-term investors are still up substantially here. It will be interesting to see what happens with this hot (until this afternoon) ASX All Ords stock next. I, for one, will be watching closely for more updates from the company, and what happens when trading resumes.

    The post Big ASX news! DroneShield share price crashes 31% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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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. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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 Scott Phillips.