• 2 outstanding ASX growth shares to buy and hold

    Five young people sit in a row having fun and interacting with their mobile phones.

    Fortunately for growth investors, there are many growth shares to choose from on the ASX.

    But which ones could be good long-term options? Let’s take a look at two that are highly rated by analysts right now:

    Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

    The team at Morgans thinks that Treasury Wine could be an ASX growth share to buy. It is the wine giant behind a range of popular brands including Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Lindeman’s, and 19 Crimes.

    As well as getting a boost from the removal of Chinese tariffs, the broker believes the acquisition of DAOU Vineyards could be significant to its growth prospects. It explains:

    It may take some time for the market to digest TWE’s acquisition of Paso Robles luxury wine business, DAOU Vineyards (DAOU) for US$900m (A$1.4bn) given it required a large capital raising. The acquisition is in line with TWE’s premiumisation and growth strategy and will strengthen a key gap in Treasury Americas (TA) portfolio. Importantly, DAOU has generated solid earnings growth and is a high margin business. It consequently allowed TWE to upgrade its margins targets. While not without risk given the size of this transaction, if TWE delivers on its investment case, there is material upside to our valuation.

    Morgans has an add rating and $15.03 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 21% is possible over the next 12 months.

    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs are feeling very bullish about this cloud accounting platform provider and see it as an ASX growth share to buy.

    The broker highlights that Xero has an enormous runway for growth thanks to its large total addressable market (TAM). It explains:

    Xero is a Global Cloud Accounting SaaS player, with existing focuses in ANZ, UK, North American and SE Asian markets. We see Xero as very well-placed to take advantage of the digitisation of SMBs globally, driven by compelling efficiency benefits and regulatory tailwinds, with >100mn SMBs worldwide representing a >NZ$100bn TAM. Given the company’s pivot to profitable growth and corresponding faster earnings ramp, we see an attractive entry point into a global growth story with Xero our preferred large-cap technology name in ANZ – the stock is Buy rated. Key catalysts include: High frequency data (downloads/visitation/pricing); CEO North America strategy update and results, and potential M&A.

    Goldman currently has a conviction buy rating and $180.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 26% for investors over the next 12 months.

    The post 2 outstanding ASX growth shares to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Treasury Wine Estates Limited right now?

    Before you buy Treasury Wine Estates Limited 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 Treasury Wine Estates Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Treasury Wine Estates and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Brokers name 3 ASX dividend stocks with great yields to buy

    A couple sits in their lounge room with a large piggy bank on the coffee table. They smile while the male partner feeds some money into the slot while the female partner looks on with an iPad style device in her hands as though they are budgeting.

    Are you on the lookout for some ASX dividend stocks to buy? If you are, then you may want to check out the three listed below.

    They have all been named as buys by brokers and tipped to offer some great dividend yields in the near term. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

    The first ASX dividend stock that could be a buy according to analysts is Centuria Industrial.

    It is Australia’s largest domestic pure play industrial property investment company with a portfolio of 88 high-quality, industrial assets situated in key in-fill locations and close to key infrastructure.

    UBS is a fan of the company and believes it is well-positioned in the current environment thanks to strong demand for industrial property.

    The broker expects this to allow Centuria Industrial to pay dividends per share of 16 cents in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Based on the current Centuria Industrial share price of $3.19, this will mean dividend yields of 5% for income investors across both years.

    UBS currently has a buy rating and $3.50 price target on its shares.

    Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

    Another ASX dividend stock that could be a buy is Deterra Royalties.

    It is a mining royalties company with a portfolio of assets across a number of commodities. This includes Mining Area C, which is operated by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

    Its shares have recently been sold off after announcing a major acquisition and making changes to its dividend policy. While UBS believes the latter will result in a significant dividend cut in FY 2025, it still expects a good yield next year. It also highlights the quality of its assets.

    UBS is forecasting dividends per share of 31 cents in FY 2024 and then 16 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Deterra Royalties share price of $4.05, this will mean yields of 7.7% and 4%, respectively.

    The broker has a buy rating and $4.90 price target on its shares.

    Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

    A final ASX dividend stock that could be a buy is Eagers Automotive. It is a leading automotive retail group which has been around for over a century.

    Analysts at Bell Potter remain positive on the company and believe that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for income investors. Especially given its belief that above-average dividend yields are still coming despite tough trading conditions.

    For example, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 64.5 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 73 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $10.56, this represents dividend yields of 6.1% and 6.9%, respectively.

    Bell Potter has a buy rating and $13.35 price target on its shares.

    The post Brokers name 3 ASX dividend stocks with great yields to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Eagers Automotive Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Eagers Automotive Ltd 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 Eagers Automotive Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    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. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 2 ‘highly attractive’ sold-off ASX mining shares to buy

    two men in hard hats and high visibility jackets look together at a laptop screen that one of the men in holding at a mine site.

    Some ASX mining shares have suffered significant pain over the last few weeks. L1 Capital, a fund manager, has pointed out to investors why some commodity stocks could be excellent buys today.

    It’s common for commodity businesses to experience volatility, as they can experience significant resource price changes. Operational challenges/changes can also lead to the occasional sell-off.

    If investors can choose the right businesses at the right price, they could be excellent opportunities. L1 outlined why the below two stocks look oversold.

    Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

    The fund manager pointed out that the Mineral Resources share price fell 25% during June because of “softness in its key commodity end markets, most notably with lithium spodumene and iron ore prices down 16% and 7%”.

    The negative resource price movements more than offset some of the positive operational announcements from the ASX mining share, such as the delivery of the first ore from its Onslow iron project ahead of schedule.

    L1 noted the company also announced the sale of a 49% interest in the Onslow haul road for A$1.3 billion. Once this transaction is completed, the investment team believe Mineral Resources will be “well placed to drive future growth and shareholder returns.”

    The ASX mining share can’t do much about the weaker lithium price, but L1 pointed out it remains on track to more than double its production over the coming years to more than 1,000kt of spodumene concentrate.

    The fund manager finished its positive view of the company with the following:

    We continue to believe that all key areas of Mineral Resources’ core business (iron ore, lithium, mining services and gas) have favourable medium-term tailwinds and the shares remain significantly undervalued.

    Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG)

    The other ASX mining share that L1 provided positive commentary on was this uranium mining business.

    The Nexgen share price fell 10% in June because the uranium share price dropped 8% over the month.

    L1 believes the uranium market has “positive fundamental supply/demand tailwinds over the medium to long term”.

    What is this company actually planning? It’s developing Arrow, the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit, in the Saskatchewan region of Canada.

    The development of this deposit is significant because it would be a “major, new, strategic Western source to address the anticipated uranium market deficit.”

    L1 expects Nextgen will have completed all regulatory requirements over the course of 2024, “providing a clear pathway to full scale construction of the project.”

    The fund manager outlined why Nextgen’s future (and valuation) looks so positive:            

    Arrow has the potential to generate more than C$2b of cash flow annually, once developed (2028) – a highly attractive proposition given NexGen’s current market cap of ~C$5.2b.

    The post 2 ‘highly attractive’ sold-off ASX mining shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Mineral Resources Limited 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 Mineral Resources Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

  • The Secret Service can’t legally ban guns outside the RNC, but a copycat assassination attempt on Trump is unlikely

    Law enforcement standing outside the RNC
    The Secret Service cannot ban guns near Republican National Convention — but another assassination attempt is unlikely.

    • Secret Service cannot ban guns near Republican National Convention after Trump shooting.
    • Security measures at the convention include a gun-free inner perimeter but not beyond.
    • Convention-goers shouldn't spend their time worrying about a copycat attempt, one gun violence expert said.

    The Secret Service can't ban guns near the Republican National Convention following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump — but convention-goers shouldn't spend their time worrying about a copycat attempt, one gun violence expert told Business Insider.

    During a campaign rally on Saturday, a gunman on a roof opposite Trump shot near the former president while he spoke. Trump said he was hit in the upper part of his ear with a bullet. A bystander at the rally was killed.

    The incident resulted in a flurry of criticism directed at the Secret Service and concerns about the safety of the former president and attendees at the RNC.

    Trump posted on Truth Social that he had considered delaying his trip to Wisconsin but later changed his mind. Trump arrived in Milwaukee Sunday evening and will speak at the RNC on Thursday.

    During a press conference Sunday, the Secret Service said it would not take on additional security measures despite concerns that guns would be allowed within blocks of the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

    James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology at Northeastern University, said it's unclear if the RNC is at greater risk because of Saturday's events, but he "wouldn't feel any greater threat."

    Fox pointed out that not many shooters in history have inspired copycat killings, and Saturday's gunman, who had little social media presence and is still an obscure figure, will most likely not be "idolized by others."

    "We've had other instances in our history of assassinations and assassination attempts without any follow-up or copycats," James Alan Fox, a professor of criminology at Northeastern University. "Obviously, given the political climate as a country as divided and heated, there is always a chance. But I would not conclude that the chance is raised because of what happened this past weekend."

    The Secret Service safety plan

    The Secret Service released its RNC safety plan in June, detailing how several blocks around the Fiserv Forum will be cordoned off in two perimeters: an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter only accessible to pedestrians.

    Attendees in the inner perimeter will be barred from bringing in guns — though guns will still be allowed outside.

    Wisconsin law allows for the open-carry of firearms and concealed carry with a license for anyone above the age of 21 — as long as they can pass a background check.

    "We have to respect your Second Amendment right to carry your firearm, especially in regards to open carry or carry and conceal with a license," Jeffery Norman, Milwaukee Police chief, told reporters on Sunday during the Secret Service press conference. "And so that is an issue that we have to navigate."

    A brochure with a map denoting the secret service perimeter around the rnc
    A map showing the inner perimeter (red) and outer perimeter (yellow) of the RNC security. The Secret Service announced that guns would be allowed outside the red zone due to Wisconsin's gun laws.

    As someone who follows gun violence statistics, Fox said he often finds that people's fears are not in line with what he said data shows: that gun violence is not an epidemic.

    Although he advocates for "reasonable and sensible gun legislation," he believes "things are not as bleak" as others say.

    "Fear remains high because the perception is different than the reality," Fox said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • These ASX stocks could rise ~30% to 45%

    Man with rocket wings which have flames coming out of them.

    Investors that are looking for big returns might want to check out the ASX stocks in this article.

    That’s because Bell Potter has just named them as buys and tipped them to rise strongly from current levels. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

    Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

    If you’re looking for exposure to the booming uranium industry, then Boss Energy could be the ASX stock to buy. Last week, Bell Potter put a buy rating and $5.90 price target on the uranium miner’s shares. This implies potential upside of 45% for investors from current levels.

    Bell Potter believes that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. It said:

    We continue to see value in BOE given the pull back in the uranium sector. BOE maintains a stable balance sheet with sufficient liquidity to execute the ramp up of Honeymoon whilst progressing growth projects across Honeymoon and Alta Mesa. We continue to see Honeymoon as a low-cost restart operation, which has the capacity to generate strong margins in the current pricing environment.

    Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

    The broker also thinks investors should be buying this coal miner’s shares. Ahead of its quarterly update, Bell Potter has put a buy rating and $1.85 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of 29% is possible for investors over the next 12 months.

    It believes Coronado Global is positioned to benefit from supply constraints and industry consolidation. It said:

    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.

    Coventry Group Ltd (ASX: CYG)

    Bell Potter is a fan of Coventry Group and sees it as an ASX stock to buy.

    It is a multi-disciplinary industrial supply and services company that is primarily engaged in the distribution of industrial fasteners and specialist building supplies.

    Bell Potter has put a buy rating and $2.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 38% for investors from current levels. It said:

    In our view, transitory cycle challenges should not deter investors from the 30-50% mid-term earnings upside potential we see in the turnaround of Konnect Australia (KAA) and growing track record of delivery by management.

    The post These ASX stocks could rise ~30% to 45% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Boss Resources Limited 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 Boss Resources Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    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. 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.

  • Greenland sharks can live for over 250 years, and scientists want to use their anti-aging secrets to help humans live longer

    People collect tissue samples from a dead Greenland whale on snow with a boat nearby
    Researchers collecting a tissue sample from a Greenland shark.

    • Greenland sharks can live up to 400 years, making them the longest-lived fish.
    • Researchers are studying these sharks to uncover the secrets of their long lifespans.
    • Understanding Greenland sharks' longevity may improve human health and aging research.

    Abigail Adams, wife of the second US president, was born in 1744. It's entirely possible that there are Greenland sharks still living today that were swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean at the time.

    There's no doubt that these large, carnivorous sharks can live hundreds of years. In 2016, researchers discovered they can survive for at least 272 years, but they might get as old as 400.

    However, why these sharks have that kind of longevity is more of a mystery. Some theories include the shark's slow growth rate and low metabolic rate, but research is ongoing.

    Scientists hope that unlocking the secrets of how these fish age could help humans live longer, healthier lives. We probably won't reach age 400, but even extending the average human life by an extra decade would be a breakthrough.

    One scientist on the hunt is Ewan Camplisson. He's been studying the sharks' metabolism for clues into its aging process.

    "Better understanding the anatomy and adaptations of a long-lived species such as the Greenland shark may allow us to improve human health," Camplisson, a PhD student at the University of Manchester, told Business Insider.

    A lifelong slow metabolism

    A Greenland shark swimming in dark water
    A Greenland shark swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean.

    Mostly found in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Greenland sharks are leisurely swimmers that can reach between 8 and 23 feet long and weigh as much as 1.5 tons, according to National Geographic.

    The predators feed on salmon, eels, seals, and even polar bears, given the chance. However, they can likely go for long periods between meals. A 493-pound fish could do just fine with between 2 and 6 ounces of food a day, according to a 2022 study.

    Camplisson's new research, which he presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference earlier this month, showed that sharks' metabolic rate may not slow as they age, which could help explain why the sharks live so long.

    The same isn't true for most animals, humans included. For example, human metabolism tends to slow in later years, which can contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

    Camplisson looked at the activity of five metabolic enzymes in preserved Greenland shark muscle tissue. "In most species, you would expect as an animal ages for these enzymes' activity to vary," he said.

    "Some of them will show reduction over time as they may begin to fail or degrade, while others will then compensate and increase in activity to make sure the animal still produces enough energy," he added.

    In the Greenland sharks he looked at, which were estimated to be between 60 and 200 years old, he found no significant variation in the enzyme activity. Of course, a Greenland shark might only be middle-aged at 200, so the same might not hold true as they reach their third or fourth century of life.

    Camplisson plans to look at more enzymes to see if and how they change as the sharks age.

    Aging is complicated

    A Greenland shark's head visible through a whole in the ice with people in boots standing nearby
    A Greenland shark captured around 2009.

    There's still a lot of work to be done before this kind of research can be applied to humans.

    "Aging is an incredibly complex system, and we still don't have a definitive answer to how exactly it works," Camplisson said.

    For example, changes in metabolism are just one part of aging in humans. Genetic errors, protein instability, and several other processes are among what's known as the "hallmarks of aging." Camplisson thinks the sharks have more to teach us in these areas.

    "We want to look closely at some of these hallmarks to determine if the Greenland shark shows any signs of traditional aging," he said.

    While Greenland sharks' remarkable aging process has allowed them to survive centuries, it could also be a double-edged sword as their environment rapidly changes.

    The species, which is considered "Near Threatened" by the World Conservation Union, may be too slow to adapt to changes in climate, marine pollution, and other stressors, Camplisson said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Inside the Ambani wedding: Details you may have missed, according to a guest who was there all weekend

    Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on July 5 at their sangeet.
    Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on July 5 at their sangeet.

    • Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant just wrapped up their 3-day wedding extravaganza in Mumbai. 
    • The festivities brought together famous faces from India and the world, including Kim Kardashian. 
    • A guest who is a friend of the bride reflects on the experience, which felt like a "dream."

    Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding festivities culminated in an ultra-lavish display in Mumbai over the weekend, with thousands of guests and more than a few famous faces in attendance.

    Among those to snag an invite was a friend of Merchant's, who spoke to Business Insider on the condition of anonymity per the bride's values of privacy and discretion.

    The friend, whose identity is known to BI, is no stranger to Indian weddings, but the celebration the Ambanis threw for the newlyweds was like nothing she'd seen before.

    "I know I'm never going to experience something like this again," she said, describing the whole weekend as "a dream."

    Now recovering from the three-day extravaganza, which the BBC estimates may have cost upwards of $156 million, she reflects on what she witnessed. Take a look.

    The festivities were lavish but felt intimate and 'family-oriented'

    One week before the wedding, on July 5, the Ambani inner circle gathered for the sangeet.

    The sangeet is one of a handful of pre-wedding traditions in Indian culture. Unlike the main wedding festivities over the weekend, this event was "just for close family and friends," she said.

    The sangeet took place at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai. Even though it was star-studded, the friend said it felt personal to the couple.

    Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries, Isha Piramal, Anand Piramal, Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani, Rihanna, Radhika Merchant, Shloka Mehta Ambani and Akash Ambani stand on the stage.
    Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries, Isha Piramal, Anand Piramal, Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani, Rihanna, Radhika Merchant, Shloka Mehta Ambani and Akash Ambani stand on the stage.

    Per Indian wedding tradition, a sangeet typically takes place a few days before the actual wedding and involves family members dancing, singing, and sharing a meal.

    "Her friends and family performed, his did too," the friend said. It was basically "one big dance party" that felt "very intimate," she added — though the Ambanis did take it up a notch by treating their guests to a private performance from Justin Bieber.

    Even the three-day wedding, while lavish, didn't feel overwhelming, the friend said.

    "Their venues are so large that you don't feel overwhelmed," she said. "You're also sticking out with your own gang," she added.

    Staff on hand to handle everything, including guests' clothes

    Throughout the wedding, which kicked off on July 12 and ended on July 14, the friend said she could tell the bride, groom, and their respective relatives are family-oriented. "You'll always see the family together," she said. "They're never apart."

    She could also tell they weren't fazed by the pressure of hosting thousands of people and a few world leaders and athletes.

    "They were super calm," she said. "The way they handle themselves, it's all truly incredible."

    Light decorations around the Ambani family's residence in Mumbai
    Decorations around the Ambani family's residence in Mumbai, India, ahead of the wedding of Anant Ambani on July 12.

    Merchant gave her new mother-in-law, Nita Ambani, all the credit for pulling off such a smoothly-run event that felt simultaneously personal and breathtaking. In an interview with Vogue, the bride dubbed her husband's mother "C.E.O. of the wedding."

    For example, the Ambanis hired staff to help at every moment. When part of the friend's dress "came off," she was directed to the bathroom, where staff had the necessary tools and safety pins to fix it.

    "They had everything there, and everyone was really helpful," she said.

    Celebrities entered the wedding venue separately, but some mixed and mingled freely

    Photographers captured the family, a host of Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities, and notable political figures arriving at the venue. It wasn't just one red carpet, though — the friend said there were different entrances for different guests.

    "I wish I was there," she joked. "For the celebs, they had a private entry."

    Inside, the venue was laden with floral arrangements shaped like animals. Designed by wedding planner Preston Bailey, the flowers were a colorful nod to the 3,000-acre animal shelter Anant launched earlier this year.

    Nick Jonas and Priyanka Jonas (Chopra) hold hands at Ambani wedding on July 12, 2024.
    Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas attend the Ambani wedding on Friday.

    Following their red carpet entries, most celebrities mixed and mingled with regular guests, she said.

    "At the end of the day, everyone's a guest," she said, adding that some of the Hollywood and Bollywood were also meeting for the first time. "They were obviously socializing among themselves and with the other Bollywood celebrities," she said.

    Food was served throughout the night in every room of the venue. The dishes laid out were from high-end restaurants from all corners of the world and served buffet-style. Everyone — including world leaders and celebrities — indulged in the spread and naturally made connections and met people as they went.

    One guest who skipped the buffets was Kim Kardashian; she was escorted by her security throughout the evening, the friend said.

    Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian wearing traditional Indian wedding guest attire, leaving their hotel on July 13, 2024 in Mumbai, India.
    Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian were among a number of high-profile guests at the Ambani wedding in Mumbai.

    "I'm sure she had a private dinner set for her," she said. Nevertheless, Kardashian was very much present at the main wedding and throughout the pooja, a religious ceremony, on Saturday.

    A blessing from India's Prime Minister

    At the pooja, "they had the best singers of India do the aarti, the prayers," the guest said. "That was amazing."

    The friend said another jaw-dropping moment from Saturday was when India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, arrived.

    "He gave them his blessing," she said, adding that the change in the "aura" of the room was palpable.

    "To be in the same room as the Prime Minister was honestly something else," she said.

    The parties featured some 'top tier' performances

    The main wedding took place at Mumbai's Jio World Convention Center on Friday. Ahead of the festivities, some roads were closed, and diversions were set up around the venue, causing tension among local residents, BI previously reported.

    While there did end up being a lot of traffic on her way to the event, the friend, who lives locally, said she was "used to it.

    "It's really Bombay in a nutshell," she said, referring to the city by its former name.

    Nevertheless, the journey was worth it for the wedding festivities and performances, the friend said.

    "It was a true party," she said, specifically referring to the baraat, which is the groom's procession to the wedding venue, which Anant did on horseback.

    Later on in the evening, the friend said guests were treated to performances from an array of artists, including Luis Fonsi, who sang his crowd-pleaser 'Despacito.'

    "It was insane," she reflected.

    The festivities didn't stop until the early hours of the morning

    While some of the more traditional and alcohol-free events — like the pooja — ended early, the friend said the Ambanis hosted "after-parties" following the wedding and the reception for their friends and the younger crowd.

    John Cena smiling and posing with his hand near his face
    John Cena poses as he arrives at the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.

    "The bigger ones like the Sangeet, the wedding, the reception, ended late because all of us partied after," she said.

    Although some guests, like John Cena, didn't stick around for the after-parties, the friend said at least a handful of famous faces did, including Zendaya's stylist, Law Roach.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Here’s the lithium price forecast through to 2027

    A man checks his phone next to an electric vehicle charging station with his electric vehicle parked in the charging bay.

    It has not been an easy time to invest in ASX lithium stocks.

    Unless you were shorting them, lithium investors are likely to be nursing sizeable paper losses over the last 12 months.

    During this time, lithium stocks such as Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM), Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) have all dropped materially.

    This has been driven by significant lithium price weakness caused by the oversupply of the white metal, softer than expected demand, and the emergence of low cost lepidolite in China.

    Weak lithium prices are squeezing the profits of lithium miners and making some unprofitable. It was for the latter reason that Core Lithium decided to suspend its mining operations indefinitely earlier this year.

    But what’s next for lithium prices?

    Let’s take a look and see what analysts at Goldman Sachs are forecasting for three widely used lithium types. These are lithium carbonate, lithium spodumene, and lithium hydroxide.

    Lithium prices

    To begin with, let’s look at what lithium prices were commanding on average during 2023.

    • Lithium carbonate – China: US$32,694 per tonne
    • Lithium hydroxide – China: US$32,452 per tonne
    • Spodumene 6%: US$3,712 per tonne

    Now, let’s have a quick look at the current spot prices of these metals compared to what they were commanding back in January. The current prices are as follows:

    • Lithium carbonate – China: US$10,934 per tonne (January: US$11,867)
    • Lithium hydroxide – China: US$9,563 per tonne (January: US$9,899)
    • Spodumene 6%: US$990 per tonne (January: US$1,000)

    Lithium forecasts through to 2027

    Unfortunately for investors of ASX lithium stocks, Goldman Sachs is not expecting a meaningful improvement in lithium prices in the coming years.

    Lithium carbonate – China:

    For lithium carbonate, the broker is forecasting the following average price through to 2027 and then for the long term:

    • 2024: US$11,683 per tonne
    • 2025: US$11,000 per tonne
    • 2026: US$13,323 per tonne
    • 2027: US$15,646 per tonne
    • Long-term: US$15,500 per tonne

    Lithium hydroxide – China:

    For lithium hydroxide, the broker is forecasting the following:

    • 2024: US$11,463 per tonne
    • 2025: US$12,500 per tonne
    • 2026: US$14,323 per tonne
    • 2027: US$16,146 per tonne
    • Long-term: US$15,500 per tonne

    Spodumene 6%:

    Finally, the broker is expecting spodumene prices to remain significantly lower than 2023 averages for the foreseeable future. It has pencilled in the following for the coming years:

    • 2024: US$995 per tonne
    • 2025: US$800 per tonne
    • 2026: US$978 per tonne
    • 2027: US$1,155 per tonne
    • Long-term: US$1,150 per tonne

    Final word

    In light of the above, it seems that only ASX lithium stocks with low costs will be in a position to run profitable operations in the coming years.

    It is largely for this reason that Goldman has a buy rating and $7.15 price target on IGO’s shares. It recently said:

    We reiterate our belief that further Greenbushes expansion remains one of the most economically compelling brownfield lithium projects, where the JV also retains significant optionality around extending/converting the TRP, while the resource likely underpins even further expansion (i.e. CGP5, subject to market conditions).

    The post Here’s the lithium price forecast through to 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Core Lithium Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Core Lithium Ltd 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 Core Lithium Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    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. 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.

  • Move over Lynas! How this ASX rare earths small-cap surged 106% in just 6 months

    happy mining worker fortescue share price

    ASX rare earths stocks have garnered plenty of attention in recent years as the West continues to secure sources of the critical elements outside of China.

    If you’re not familiar, rare earths elements (REEs) are core ingredients across a range of high-tech devices. Those include phones, EVs and military equipment. They’re also used for high-power magnets, which you’ll find in equipment like wind turbines.

    While Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) gets much of the media coverage in this space, there are some fast-rising stars you might want to consider aside from this S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rare earths miner.

    Namely Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE).

    And when I say fast-rising star, that’s no hyperbole.

    On 24 January, the ASX rare earths share closed the day trading for $1.52. Yesterday, the small-cap miner ended the day trading for $3.13 a share.

    That sees the Brazilian Rare Earths share price up 105.9% in less than six months.

    Here’s what’s been piquing investor interest.

    What’s driving the ASX rare earths stock to the moon?

    Brazilian Rare Earths only listed on the ASX on 21 December.

    While shares have been up strongly since the listing, the sustained rally kicked off in early February.

    That rally was initially spurred by promising assay results from an early diamond drilling program at the ASX rare earths miner’s Monte Alto Rare Earths Project, located in Brazil.

    Results from the initial exploratory campaign included wide intervals of high-grade rare earth elements, niobium and scandium mineralisation (+10% TREO) recorded in four holes and ultra-high-grade mineralisation (+20% TREO) recorded in an additional six holes.

     “These exceptional high-grade assay results validate Monte Alto as a world-class rare earth exploration project with some of the highest grades ever reported globally,” Brazilian Rare Earths CEO Bernardo da Veiga said at the time.

    On 22 February, investors sold the shares down heavily. But they bounced back over the following days, after the miner reported it had exercised its option to acquire the advanced Sulista Rare Earth Project in Bahia, Brazil. The option saw the miner secure more than 100 square kilometres of highly prospective exploration licences across the southern extension of the Rocha da Rocha Rare Earth Province.

    Shares surged again on 25 March on the back of more strong assay results from across the Rocha da Rocha Rare Earth Province. The ASX miner also reported on a new rare earth discovery, the Pelé Project, located 60 kilometres from Monte Alto.

    And the good times continued into June.

    On 6 June, the Brazilian Rare Earths share price closed up 10.7% after the latest batch of drill results confirmed “ultra-high rare earth grades” at the miner’s Sulista Project.

    And the miner is well capitalised to accelerate its exploration and development activities, having completed a $80 million share placement raising on 13 June. The company issued the new shares for $3.30 apiece, 9.6% below the prior trading day’s closing price.

    That put that ASX rare earths stock under some selling pressure, with shares still down just more than 13% since the cap raise.

    The post Move over Lynas! How this ASX rare earths small-cap surged 106% in just 6 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Brazilian Rare Earths right now?

    Before you buy Brazilian Rare Earths 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 Brazilian Rare Earths wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    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.

  • Here is the earnings forecast out to FY28 for Telstra shares

    A woman shows her phone screen and points up.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares could undoubtedly benefit from the ASX telco share‘s projected profit growth in the coming years.

    Telstra announced last week that it would increase the price of its postpaid and prepaid mobile plans by between $2 and $4 per month. The company said network traffic was growing at 20% per year, and it needed to continue to invest to provide “additional capacity to support more data, faster speeds, and a more consistent experience for customers.”

    Not only should the price hike help short-term revenue and earnings, but the broker UBS thinks the telco industry could continue to see industry mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) keep rising.

    The broker’s research suggests overall consumer churn could remain stable and low and “likely confined to [the] more price-sensitive end of the market”.

    UBS thinks investors are “not pricing in the ability for the industry to capture the majority of price rises recently announced, and are expecting a level of down-trading of plans by consumers”.      

    Let’s examine the projected profit Telstra will generate in the coming years following the news of these price increases.

    FY24 projection

    These recently announced price increases won’t be implemented until FY25, but FY24 is benefiting from previous price rises that were linked to inflation.

    UBS is projecting in FY24 that Telstra could generate revenue of $23.66 billion, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $3.66 billion and $2.05 billion of net profit after tax (NPAT).

    The profit growth is projected to be approximately 6% compared to FY23, and the Telstra dividend per share is forecast to be 18 cents.  

    How about FY25?

    Earnings growth is expected again in FY25 despite the ongoing investment in its 5G network and other telco infrastructure.

    UBS suggests that in FY25, Telstra could generate $24.1 billion of revenue, $3.7 billion of EBIT, and $2.06 billion of NPAT.

    If those projections are true, the NPAT would grow by around 1%, and the dividend could rise to 19 cents per share, according to UBS.

    And FY26?

    Profit is expected to start accelerating in FY26, which is a financial year that could really excite investors.

    Owners of Telstra shares could see their business generate $24.7 billion in revenue, $4.47 billion in EBIT, and $2.54 billion in NPAT.

    That’d be a jump of almost $500 million in NPAT in dollar terms. In percentage terms, the FY26 net profit is forecast to rise by 23%. This large profit growth could lead to a jump in the dividend per share to 21 cents.

    Expectations for FY27

    Ongoing double-digit profit growth is expected in FY27, which could be welcome news for Telstra shareholders.

    The company could generate $25.4 billion in revenue, $5 billion in EBIT, and $2.87 billion in NPAT, according to UBS.

    This could mean a 13% increase in net profit in percentage terms, which could fund a large bump in the dividend per share to 24 cents.

    Finally, here’s the FY28 forecast

    The last year of this series of projections is also forecast to be a good one for owners of Telstra shares.

    UBS predicts that in FY28, the ASX telco share could generate $26.1 billion in revenue, $5.4 billion in EBIT, and $3.18 billion in net profit.

    In percentage terms, this could represent a 10.75% year-over-year increase and might help fund a dividend payment of 26 cents per share.

    If these projections come true, NPAT could grow by $1.1 billion over the next four years, leading to an 8 cents per share increase in the dividend between FY24 and FY28, which is an exciting prospect for Telstra shareholders.

    The post Here is the earnings forecast out to FY28 for Telstra shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Telstra Corporation Limited right now?

    Before you buy Telstra Corporation Limited 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 Telstra Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.