• 3 reasons everyone’s talking about CBA shares this week

    A man and a woman sit in front of a laptop looking fascinated and captivated.

    It seems everyone around the proverbial ASX water cooler has been talking about Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares this week.

    On the surface, that’s nothing too unusual. As the ASX’s second-largest (perhaps soon to be largest) share, as well as the spiritual leader of the ASX big four bank stocks, CBA is never far from the front of mind when discussing the Australian share market.

    But this week, there are three reasons CBA shares might have been even more prominent than usual in the minds of ASX investors. Let’s get into them.

    3 reasons everyone has been talking about CBA shares this week

    An avalanche of new record highs for CBA shares

    ASX investors have probably become used to seeing the CBA share price clock the odd new record high. After all, we’ve seen this ASX bank reset its high watermark quite a few times over the past 12 months.

    But this week, we saw no fewer than three fresh records for Commonwealth Bank shares. Tuesday had the bank soar up to $128.97 a share. That record didn’t last too long though.

    By yesterday, CBA had topped that, reaching up to $130.30 a share. But that high was to last for less than 24 hours. Today, investors have sent the bank higher yet again, with CBA topping out at its new record high of $131.70.

    This cascade of new records is enough to get ASX chins a-wagging by itself.

    The CBA dividend yield enters mediocre territory

    Of course, these fresh new highs for CBA shares haven’t come without a cost. That cost would be this bank’s dividend yield.

    As most ASX investors would know, the ASX banks are well-known for their chunky, fully franked dividends. CBA used to be in that club, with investors enjoying a typical yield of between 4-5% in days of yore.

    But not anymore. The galloping CBA share price has had the perverse effect of lowering the bank’s dividend yield to something unrecognisable for an ASX bank.

    Today, CBA is trading on a yield of just 3.46%.

    Not only is that well below National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)’s 4.55%, but it is getting close to half of the 5.98% that ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) currently has on the table.

    This un-banklike dividend yield would also be provoking some discussions amongst income investors this week.

    ASX 200 hits new record high

    It’s not just CBA shares hitting new records this week. We’ve also enjoyed a far rarer event today – a new all-time record high for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) itself. Yep, this Friday has seen the ASX 200 clock a new record of its own – 7,969.1 points.

    What does this have to do with CBA shares? Well, as we went through earlier today, ASX 200 investors largely have CommBank to thank for this new high.

    CBA shares are up a healthy 15.8% over 2024 alone. Since this bank is the second-largest stock in the ASX 200 by market capitalisation, its 9.22% weighting in the index means its share price performance has a disproportionately large impact on the broader index.

    Put simply, if CBA wasn’t hitting new high after new high this week, we probably wouldn’t see the ASX 200 at a new record itself.

    So even if investors don’t directly own CBA shares, they probably still have a reason to thank the bank today.

    The post 3 reasons everyone’s talking about CBA shares this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in National Australia Bank. 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.

  • Biden says he’ll take a neurological test if his doctors tell him to, ‘but no one’s suggesting that’ to him now

    President Joe Biden delivering remarks during the NATO 75th anniversary celebratory event.
    President Joe Biden delivered remarks during the NATO 75th anniversary celebratory event.

    • Joe Biden said he would take a neurological test, but only if his doctors tell him he needs one.
    • "But no ones suggesting that to me now," the president said at the NATO summit on Thursday.
    • His assurances come as pressure mounts for him to prove his cognitive fitness before the elections.

    Facing mounting calls to take a neurological exam, President Joe Biden has agreed that he would — but only if his own doctors think there's something wrong with him.

    Speaking at NATO's 75th anniversary celebratory event on Thursday, he was asked whether he would be "open to taking another physical or test before the election."

    He responded that he had taken "three significant and intense neurological exams," with the most recent being in February.

    The president tripped over his words then, saying he had been tested by a "neuro-neurosurgeon-neurologist."

    The medical professionals had determined that he was in "good shape," he added.

    "Every single day, I am surrounded by good docs," he said to the crowd at the NATO summit. "If they think there's a problem, I promise you, or even if they don't think there's a problem, if they think I should have a neurological exam again, I'll do it."

    "But no one's suggesting that to me now," he said.

    However, three anonymous former colleagues of White House physician Kevin O'Connor, who worked in the White House's medical unit, thought otherwise.

    They told The Washington Post that Biden's abysmal debate performance suggested that the president undergo cognitive screening.

    Adding fuel to the fire, Biden made a series of blunders at the NATO summit, mistakenly calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself.

    He also referred to "Vice President Trump" instead of Vice President Kamala Harris.

    Despite his assertions that he is mentally fit to run for reelection, he faces a chorus of calls — externally and from within his own party — to check his cognitive health.

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was labeled as one of the best replacements for Biden if he dropped out of the race, said she doesn't "think it would hurt" for him to take a cognitive test.

    GOP figures, too, have been calling on Biden to take a cognitive test.

    On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said: "All nominees for president going into the future should have neurological exams as part of an overall physical exam."

    He acknowledged that even former President Donald Trump, his longtime ally, should adhere to this.

    Trump himself has historically jumped on chances to undermine his opponent's mental fitness, challenging Biden to get examined before the next debate.

    Speaking at a Turning Point Action convention in Detroit on June 15, Trump said: "He doesn't even know what the word 'inflation' means. I think he should take a cognitive test like I did."

    The former president said he took a cognitive test in 2018 and has since bragged about it, saying he "aced" it "very hard."

    However, experts have warned that making Biden take a neurological test could be a "slippery slope."

    "Today, it's basic cognitive tests. Tomorrow, it's IQ tests. The next thing you know, candidates are battling each other over who is a member of Mensa," Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science at University College London, told Business Insider.

    Representatives for Biden didn't immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Do you own the 3 best performing ASX 200 shares of FY 2025?

    Three girls compete in a race, running fast around an athletic track.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2.5% and in new all-time high territory as we near the end of the second trading week of FY 2025. But some ASX shares have already done much better.

    Now, two weeks is only a small snapshot for these ASX 200 shares and the broader market as far as what’s yet to come for the full financial year. But try telling that to the investors who bought these companies near market close on 28 June and are already banking gains of more than 20%.

    Which stocks are we talking about?

    Read on!

    ASX 200 shares starting the 2025 financial year with a bang

    The third best ASX 200 share to have bought at the end of FY 2024 is Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

    Despite slipping over the past three trading days, shares in the Aussie coal stock remain up 13.0% since market close on 28 June, currently changing hands for $8.65 apiece.

    There’s been no price-sensitive news from the miner since its 19 April quarterly update.

    But Whitehaven shares got a big boost along with other coal stocks following news of an underground fire at Anglo American‘s (LSE: AAL) Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland on 29 June. Anglo American has suspended production at the mine for an indeterminate time.

    Whitehaven shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 5.7%.

    Moving on to the second-best performing ASX 200 share in FY 2025, we have gold share Red 5 Ltd (ASX: RED).

    Shares in the ASX gold stock have surged 16.7% since market close on 28 June.

    The gold miner enjoyed a big boost on Monday when it reported it had entered into a restructured hedge facility and security package, repaid all outstanding loans, and restructured the hedging from its legacy Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR) common terms deed.

    Red 5 also reported full-year gold sales of 455,259 ounces.

    Which brings us to the best ASX 200 share to have held for the first two weeks of FY 2025, Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN).

    That’s right, another big Australian coal stock, which also enjoyed a big boost from Anglo American’s mine closure.

    The Coronado share price ended FY 2024 at $1.185 and currently stands at $1.427. That sees the stock up 20.4% in only two weeks.

    And it could have a lot further to run.

    According to Bell Potter:

    Throughout 2024, CRN should realise improved production volumes and subsequent cost benefits following the self-funded investment across its Australian and US operations. We expect CRN to generate improved free cash flow and shareholder returns going forward.

    Our buy recommendation is underpinned by a supply constrained met coal environment, supporting long term prices. We see the potential for CRN to participate in industry consolidation.

    The broker has a ‘buy’ rating and a $1.85 price target for the ASX 200 share. That represents a further potential upside of almost 30% from current levels.

    The post Do you own the 3 best performing ASX 200 shares of FY 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 Scott Phillips.

  • Are Liontown Resources shares a buy after surging 9% this week?

    A male lion with a large mane sits atop a rocky mountain outcrop surveying the view, representing the outlook for the Liontown share price in FY23

    Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have faced a tough past year. From the 12 months to June 11, they lost 66% of their value.

    Since entering the new financial year, the story is a little different. The stock is up 14% since July 1 and has surged 10% this week so far.

    They currently fetch $1.02 apiece, more than 6% higher than yesterday’s close. The chart below shows the last twelve months of Liontown’s share price action.

    Do the experts say Liontown is a buy? Here’s a look.

    Recent developments for Liontown shares

    Liontown has made substantial progress towards transitioning from a lithium developer to a miner. As a reminder, the company’s crown jewel is its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.

    Production is set to commence at the site, which could be a tailwind if successful, in my view.

    In July, the company also secured a US$250 million convertible note agreement with LG Energy Solution to fund the development of its Kathleen Valley project.

    After this transaction, it will have cash of around A$501 million, with $120 million set to be immediately invested into Kathleen Valley.

    The remaining A$381 million and “additional liquidity provides balance sheet strength” for the site, it says.

    What do analysts say?

    Bell Potter is bullish on Liontown shares and praises the funding arrangement with LG Energy Solution. The broker reckons it removes some of the negative terms associated with undertaking traditional bank debt.

    Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, recently provided a cautious earnings forecast for Liontown, considering its bearish outlook on lithium prices.

    The firm estimates a gradual increase in revenue and profitability for Liontown from FY25 to FY29.

    According to my colleague James’ analysis, the broker expects revenue of $143 million in FY25, leading to a loss of $162 million.

    By FY 2029, Goldman forecasts revenue to reach $1,326 million, with a profit of $330 million.

    These estimates reflect a significant growth trajectory as estimated production ramps up and operational efficiencies improve.

    Despite this, Goldman Sachs holds a neutral rating on Liontown shares with a price target of $1.15, noting:

    For LTR, though we expect more modest cost escalation based on our benchmarking we remain Neutral on relative valuation.

    Although it acknowledges the potential valuation uplift from de-risking and improved lithium pricing, it still advises caution until production and cost management are clearer.

    Bell Potter, however, is more optimistic, maintaining a speculative buy rating and a $1.85 price target. It says that with initial production at Kathleen Valley on the way, Liontown shares are well positioned, according to my colleague James.

    Meanwhile, according to CommSec, the consensus of analyst ratings says Liontown is a hold.

    Foolish takeaway

    Liontown Resources is at a critical juncture. With production set to start soon, the company could see significant growth if it manages costs effectively and ramps up production smoothly.

    While Goldman Sachs advises caution, Bell Potter’s bullish outlook suggests substantial upside potential. Based on this, there are risks in owning this stock before it successfully starts production, in my view.

    In any case, it’s essential to conduct your own due diligence and seek financial advice when necessary.

    The post Are Liontown Resources shares a buy after surging 9% this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

  • US inflation easing: What does it mean for ASX shares?

    It is a very happy Friday for most ASX shares so far today. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) quickly clocked a series of new record highs in early trading today, and has continued to push higher into the afternoon.

    At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up a healthy 0.93% at just over 7,960 points after hitting a new record high of 7,969.1 points this morning.

    But let’s talk about some economic news out from the United States overnight that might have some consequences for ASX investors going forward.

    The United States, like Australia, has been struggling with the economic impacts of inflation over the past few years. Like in Australia, the US has been steadily ratcheting up interest rates in an attempt to control inflation.

    Last night, we got the latest news on how that struggle is going.

    American CPI falls over June

    According to reporting from CNBC, the American consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.1% between May and June. That drop puts the annual rate of inflation in the US economy at 3%, which is reportedly the lowest figure in more than three years. It’s the first time since May 2020 that monthly CPI declined.

    Core CPI, which excludes volatile items like petrol and food costs, increased 0.1% month-on-month though, putting its annual rate at a higher 3.3%. Even so, this rise was the smallest increase in core inflation since April 2021.

    This inflation report was welcomed by economic commentators. Here’s some of what Morgan Stanley’s Chris Larkin told CNBC:

    The June inflation report means the [US Federal Reserve] is one step closer to a September rate cut… A lot can happen between now and September 18, but unless most of the numbers pivot back into ‘hot’ territory, the Fed’s reasoning for not cutting rates may no longer be justified.

    As most ASX investors know, interest rates are usually raised to put downward pressure on inflation. Since inflation seems to be cooling in the States, the next interest rate move might be a cut, and perhaps sooner rather than later.

    But what would this mean for ASX shares?

    Well, this report is arguably great news for ASX investors as well. Interest rates may be different from country to country. But they are all interconnected too. It’s no coincidence that the US has raised interest rates over the past few years almost in tandem with our own Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

    If American inflation is cooling, it bodes well for Australian inflation as well. Taking inflationary heat out of the global economy is what the RBA would want to see from the United States. And it just got a big dose of that.

    If rates do start dropping over in the US, it would probably mean that an interest rate cut in Australia is more likely. That’s not a guarantee, of course. But this June inflation report out of the US is probably just what Michelle Bullock and the other bigwigs at the RBA were hoping to see.

    Lower inflation will eventually lead to lower interest rates, both here and in the United States. And lower rates are great news for the share market. Remember, high interest rates tend to suck money out of ASX shares as investors flock to safer investments like cash and bonds. Lower rates would have the opposite effect.

    As such, this inflation report is exciting for ASX investors, which might be at least partly why the Australian stock market is reaching new record highs today.

    Let’s see what the RBA’s next move might be.

    The post US inflation easing: What does it mean for ASX shares? 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 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.

  • Buying shares and 5 other ways investors intend to spend tax cuts: report

    A woman looks questioning as she puts a coin into a piggy bank.

    One in five investors intends to spend their tax-cut savings buying shares, according to a survey of more than 2,000 Australian investors conducted by online trading platform, Stake.

    Let’s find out what other investors intend to do with the extra money in their pay this month.

    1 in 5 investors will put tax-cut savings into shares

    Stage three tax cuts began this month. Every worker will receive a bit more in their pay following amendments to the original stage three tax cut plan.

    The tax cuts will see a worker earning $55,000 per year saving $1,054 per annum in tax. A worker earning $140,000 per year will save $3,729 per annum in tax. You can check out the new tax rates here.

    Stake’s survey showed most investors, or 31%, intend to use their tax-cut savings to help them with the cost of living.

    Following 13 interest rate rises between May 2022 and November 2023, and indicators this month that inflation may prove stickier than expected, households are under significant pressure.

    A further 31% of investors intend to save the extra cash for a rainy day or emergencies.

    Here at The Fool, we suggest investors always have an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. This avoids having to sell assets like ASX shares at inopportune times to cover urgent expenses.

    Another 24% of investors intend to pay off debts. The Fool distinguishes between ‘good’ and ‘bad debts’. Bad debts are short-term debts not associated with investment, like interest on credit cards.

    Other ideas for the extra cash

    As mentioned earlier, one in five investors, or 21%, intend to buy shares. The survey also revealed the five most popular ASX shares purchased by investors, which are listed below.

    The survey results reflect Australians’ ongoing love of travel.

    About 19% of respondents intend to use their extra cash to fund holidays and travel. This was the only discretionary expense featured in the top six responses.

    Finally, 19% intend to use their additional income to save for retirement.

    Some might use their tax cuts to make concessional contributions to superannuation, which would give them further tax savings.

    This is because contributions are taxed at 15%, which is well below most people’s marginal income tax rates. You can learn about how to save tax through superannuation here.

    Top 5 ASX shares among survey respondents

    The survey found the five favourite ASX shares among investors comprised four exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and an ASX lithium share.

    Here they are.

    1/ Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is an index-based ETF that tracks the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO).

    2/ iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    The iShares S&P 500 ETF is an index-based ETF that tracks the 500 largest companies comprising the US S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX).

    3/ Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    The Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF tracks the return of the MSCI World ex-Australia (with net dividends reinvested). This means exposure to about 1,500 companies from 23 developed countries.

    4/ Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

    The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF tracks the performance of the tech-heavy NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX).

    5/ Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Pilbara Minerals has lost 41% of its value over the past 12 months due to plunging commodity values.

    The post Buying shares and 5 other ways investors intend to spend tax cuts: report appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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    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…

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    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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Up 86% in a year, could this ASX All Ords financial share keep on rising?

    A businessman looking at his digital tablet or strategy planning in hotel conference lobby. He is happy at achieving financial goals.

    ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) financial share GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) has shown a remarkable performance this year.

    Over the past 12 months, the United States-based asset manager’s share price has surged by 86%, outpacing the All Ords index’s modest 6% rise during the same period.

    Since its initial public offering (IPO) in October 2021, GQG Partners shares traded below the IPO price of $2 for the first two years, reaching a low of $1.32 in November 2023. From there, the share price more than doubled to its current price of $2.85 as the company’s assets under management (AUM) continued to grow.

    What drove the strong share price growth?

    GQG Partners is an active asset management company specialising in equity investments across four categories: international, global, emerging markets, and US shares. The company is led by experienced stock picker Rajiv Jain, who serves as both chief investment officer and executive chairman.

    The significant increase in share price can be attributed to rapid growth in AUM. In its latest update for June 2024, GQG Partners reported a surge in total AUM to US$155.6 billion. Net inflows nearly doubled to US$11.1 billion in the first six months of 2024, compared to US$6.2 billion for the same period the previous year.

    In his interview with the Australian Financial Review in February 2024, GQG Partners CEO Tim Carver highlighted its superior investment returns and its relatively low fee structure compared to its peers as key success factors.

    In addition, the company boasts a high insider ownership. Company insiders, including management and employees, own more than 75% of the company. Jain is the largest shareholder, with a 70% holding.

    At the annual general meeting (AGM) in May 2024, Jain said:

    An important part of this is being co-investors. Not only are we majority shareholders in the business, but our team has invested meaningfully in our strategies alongside our clients.

    As the largest shareholder in GQG, I remain aligned with you in my expectations that the executive team will remain completely focused on delivering value to our clients, and thereby creating long-term shareholder value.

    What do experts say about GQG Partners?

    Goldman Sachs rates GQG Partners a buy with a target price of $3, indicating a 5% upside from here. The broker’s analysts believe GQG shares’ valuations are still attractive compared to those of its peers, considering the company’s strong growth.

    Fund manager Blackwattle sees GQG’s valuations as undemanding, as my colleague Tristan highlighted. In its portfolio update, the investment team at Blackwattle said that GQG Partners still screened cheaply compared to its peers.

    The fund manager pointed out that the 10-year average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of listed asset management companies is 16x. At the current share price, GQG Partners shares are valued at 13x on S&P Capital IQ’s FY25 earnings estimates.

    The GQG Partners share price is down 0.87% at the time of writing trading at $2.85.

    The post Up 86% in a year, could this ASX All Ords financial share keep on rising? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee 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 Scott Phillips.

  • Will Ferrell was embarrassed by his real name at school. An expert says insecurities about one’s name can affect your self-esteem.

    Will Ferrell posing at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
    Will Ferrell was embarrassed to be called "John" at school.

    • Will Ferrell said it was "excruciating" to be called "John" on the first week of school. 
    • The "Barbie" actor added that he did not know why he felt embarrassed. 
    • A psychologist weighs in on why names can cause insecurities. 

    The first day of school is never easy. It was especially awkward for Will Ferrell, as he had to deal with being called by his real name: John.

    "On the first day of school, the teacher would be like, 'John Ferrell,' and it was so embarrassing to me to have to say, 'Here. But I go by Will, I don't go by John,'" Ferrell told Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler on Tuesday's episode of the MeSsy podcast. His full name is John William Ferrell.

    "It was excruciating," the "Barbie" actor, 56, said, explaining that teachers would often take a week to remember to call him Will. "So the beginning of the school year was always like, 'Oh my gosh, I hate this.'"

    When asked why the name John embarrassed him, Ferrell said he didn't know. "It wasn't by choice. My parents named me John but called me Will," he said.

    "People are probably going to be listening to this going, 'That is the lamest thing ever,'" he said. Applegate laughed, pointing out that they probably lost any listeners named John.

    Reflecting further on his school days, Ferrell shared how his humor helped him socially.

    "I think, definitely, being funny was an easy way to make friends, not to feel like being an outsider, and it was a way to ingratiate yourself into a group," Ferrell said.

    Why names can cause embarrassment

    As names are closely tied to our identities, insecurities about them can affect our self-esteem and confidence, Dr Annabelle Chow, a clinical psychologist and director at Annabelle Kids, told Business Insider.

    She added that children who feel insecure about their name might find it difficult to introduce themselves and make friends.

    "Used to his loved ones calling him 'Will,' he could have formed an emotional connection to this name. His self-concept was built around the 'Will' identity, and that was who he had known himself to be," Chow said.

    Celebrities are not the only ones who go by different names. In 2002, fashion designer Ralph Lauren told Oprah that he changed his last name from Lifshitz to Lauren when he was 16, after being bullied in school.

    Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, was born Ma Yun, but he used the Westernised name "Jack" to make his name more accessible to a global audience.

    A representative for Ferrell did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Down 79% in FY 2024, can the Sayona Mining share price rebound in FY 2025?

    a mine worker holds his phone in one hand and a tablet in the other as he stands in front of heavy machinery at a mine site.

    The Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) share price just closed out a financial year to forget.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) lithium stock ended FY 2023 trading at 18 cents. On 28 June, the final trading day of FY 2024, shares finished the day changing hands for 3.6 cents apiece.

    That saw the Sayona Mining share price down a painful 77.8% over the year.

    For some context, the ASX 300 gained 7.7% over this same period.

    Here’s what happened over the financial year just past.

    What went wrong for the ASX lithium stock?

    As you can see in the above chart, the Sayona Mining share price was in a marked downtrend for most of FY 2024. That came despite the company reporting on a number of high-grade drilling results over the course of the financial year.

    The majority of the headwinds battering the miner were driven by the ongoing fall in lithium prices.

    With global supply growth outpacing demand growth, lithium carbonate ended FY 2024 trading for roughly US$11,000 a tonne. That was well down from lithium’s 2022 record highs. And it was less than a third of the US$32,000 a tonne we saw lithium prices averaging in 2023.

    To get a better idea of how heavily this has impacted the Sayona Mining share price, we need look no further than the company’s most recent half-year and quarterly updates.

    Over the half-year to 31 December (H1 FY 2024), the miner reported maiden half-year revenue of $118 million. Now, that’s obviously a good thing. Except it also coincided with a $32 million loss after tax for the six months.

    Sayona Mining’s quarterly results, released on 26 April, confirmed just how much pain the plunging lithium price was causing.

    As Motley Fool analyst James Mickleboro pointed out on the day:

    The company reported a sizeable 142% quarter on quarter increase in concentrate sales volumes to 58,055 dmt. However, this was achieved with an average realised selling price of AU$999 per dmt.

    This means that the company is selling its lithium for over AU$500 less than it costs to dig it out of the ground.

    With the miner selling at a loss, its cash balance dropped from AU$158 million at the end of December to AU$99 million at the end of March.

    That’s the financial year just past.

    The question now is, what can ASX investors expect from Sayona Mining shares in FY 2025?

    What’s ahead for the Sayona Mining share price in FY 2025?

    Two weeks into FY 2025, the Sayona Mining share price is at 3.4 cents, down 5.6% so far in the new financial year.

    While a number of company-specific factors will come into play to determine just how well or poorly the miner fares over the 50 remaining weeks of FY 2025, the biggest factor will be the global lithium prices.

    Now many analysts believe lithium prices will remain subdued well into 2026. But there’s recently been a growing cohort of bulls in this sector as well.

    “Lithium could be a surprise into the end of 2024, as lithium equities are trading at levels that imply the whole EV transition is over,” Janus Henderson’s Global Natural Resources Fund portfolio manager, Darko Kuzmanovic said.

    “The groundwork is set for a strong rebound in resources equities and commodity prices over the next few months into year’s end,” he added.

    If Janus Henderson’s forecast proves out, we could see a big rally in the Sayona Mining share price in H1 FY 2025.

    The post Down 79% in FY 2024, can the Sayona Mining share price rebound in FY 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Up 87% in a month, this ASX stock is winning millions in AI work

    A young man talks tech on his phone while looking at a laptop. A financial graph is superimposed across the image.

    ASX AI stocks have caught a strong bid in 2024. The artificial intelligence domain has seen tremendous growth, spurred on by the meteoric rise of US tech giants like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA).

    One Australian tech company is also capturing investor attention thanks to its links to AI, with its share price surging more than 87% in the last month.

    SKS Technologies Group Ltd (ASX: SKS) is in the news today with two market-sensitive announcements.

    SKS provides audiovisual products alongside electrical and communications cabling to various industries. At the time of writing, the ASX AI stock is up 17.9% on Friday and is fetching $1.35 apiece.

    Here’s a look at the company’s latest updates.

    ASX AI share secures $90 million contract

    SKS Technologies announced today it has landed a $90 million contract as part of an international hyperscale data centre being refurbished in Melbourne.

    The West Melbourne project will expand the current facility’s capacity to 185MW, making it “one of the largest data centres in Australia offering both cloud and AI services to a growing base of customers”, according to the company.

    These works form part of the 100MW expansion of the data centre in Melbourne’s western region, which will take the facility to a total capacity of 185MW upon completion and will be one of the largest data centres in Australia offering both cloud and AI services to a growing base of customers.

    As such, this project award takes SKS Technologies’ work on hand to another record high of $178 million, which is considerable given the rate at which work is being completed and converted to revenue.

    The ASX AI stock advised it would handle the “electrical design and construction works” of the project’s current stage.

    This involves electrical infrastructure, installing transformers, generators, powertrain units, and comprehensive electrical design

    SKS Technologies CEO Matthew Jinks said the contract reflected the market’s confidence in the company’s ability “to deliver superior electrical systems”.

    It is also indicative of the strength of the pipeline of opportunities in the data centre sector,
    which saw $18 billion of projects announced for hyperscale data centres in Melbourne and
    Sydney in 2023 alone.

    Jinks went on to say:

    Furthermore, based on past initiatives to apply our expertise and experience to the datacentre market and capture a share of this rapidly growing opportunity, SKS Technologies is now able to execute sophisticated, large-scale projects for the organisations at the forefront of this new and growing frontier.

    Updates to FY4 and FY25 revenue forecasts

    In a separate announcement today, the ASX AI stock updated its FY25 outlook. Management now forecasts generating more than $200 million in revenue for this financial year. ]

    This is based on its current workload of $178 million, which includes the new data centre project mentioned above.

    “It’s pleasing to see the continued growth of the business, which reflects the market’s confidence in SKS Technologies’ ability to scale resources and deliver projects,” Jinks said.

    Today’s announcements follow another from SKS Technologies on Monday this week when management announced it expected $130 million in FY24 revenues for the ASX AI stock. This is up from the previous $120 million forecast.

    The revision was based on “the continually accelerating level of work on hand” alongside its recent contract wins and “the general health of the business and its ability to fund a substantial level of further growth with its recently increased bank facilities”

    Moreover, the company says the pipeline of opportunities for new work shows no sign of abating.

    The post Up 87% in a month, this ASX stock is winning millions in AI work appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.