Tag: Motley Fool

  • Arafura defies sell-off in ASX mining shares to stay buoyant. Is this why?

    A boy sits on his dad's shoulders, both are flexing their biceps in unison.A boy sits on his dad's shoulders, both are flexing their biceps in unison.

    The Arafura Resources Limited (ASX: ARU) share price kept its head above water on Wednesday.

    At the end of the day, shares in the rare earth minerals exploration company settled at 34 cents apiece, bang on the same price they closed at yesterday. That may not sound like much to cheer about, but in the context of the broader market, it is.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was tenderised today, with the benchmark index wiping off 1.43% from yesterday. Notably, the materials sector shouldered a fair chunk of the selling.

    Several big ASX mining shares, such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), experienced falls in excess of 2.3%. So, why is it that the Arafura Resources share price stood tall?

    Joining an index comes with its perks

    Firstly, there were details regarding the issuing of performance rights to leadership today. However, there was no material information from the small-cap exploration company. In light of this, we need to search further to find what might have supported Arafura while other shares fell.

    On Monday, The Motley Fool Australia reported on Arafura’s inclusion in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) as per the September quarterly rebalance. During that session, the hopeful neodymium and praseodymium producer rallied 17%.

    There is a chance that Arafura Resources enjoyed continued buying on Wednesday as index funds sought to replicate the proposed rebalanced benchmark.

    At the close, the company had witnessed more than 11.8 million shares swap hands. This far surpasses the average value of around 8.1 million.

    What else could be fuelling the Arafura share price?

    Another factor that might have helped Arafura shares fend off selling pressure is the elevated interest in rare earth shares.

    Toward the end of August, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Wyloo Metals revealed its intentions to invest in Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX: HAS). The fellow rare earth explorer would be using some of the funds received by Wyloo to take a stake in Canadian-listed magnet maker Neo Performance Materials.

    Interest in rare earth mining shares has been elevated in recent times as China ties have loosened. As a result, countries have been seeking ways to reduce their reliance on the People’s Republic for the key material.

    The post Arafura defies sell-off in ASX mining shares to stay buoyant. Is this why? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Arafura Resources Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Arafura 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 are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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.

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  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    An old-fashioned panel of judges each holding a card with the number 10An old-fashioned panel of judges each holding a card with the number 10

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) took its lead from Wall Street on Wednesday, plummeting to a seven-week low. The index closed 1.42% lower at 6,729.30 points.

    It came after the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.4% and 0.5% respectively overnight. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) slipped 0.7%.

    Leading the ASX 200’s downfall was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ), falling 2.9%. It followed a mixed night for oil prices.

    The Brent crude oil price fell 3% to US$92.83 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price  lifted 0.1% to US$86.88 a barrel.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also plunged 2% after iron ore futures slid 0.9% to US$97.61 a tonne and gold futures lifted 0.6% to US$1,712.90 an ounce.

    Only two sectors recorded a gain on Wednesday. The biggest lift was posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). It rose 0.3% despite the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite’s Tuesday losses.

    But which share outperformed all others on Wednesday? Let’s take a look.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s top performing ASX 200 share was ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD). Find out more about the medical device and software developer and what it’s been up to lately here.

    Today’s biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) $33.51 4.23%
    Virgin Money UK CDI (ASX: VUK) $2.53 3.27%
    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (ASX: FPH) $17.41 3.02%
    Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) $11.80 2.79%
    Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) $4.31 2.62%
    Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) $8.30 2.47%
    Janus Henderson Group CDI (ASX: JHG) $34.35 2.32%
    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) $1.525 2.01%
    Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) $24.57 1.95%
    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) $7.40 1.93%

    Our top 10 ASX 200 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.

    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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Link Administration Holdings Ltd, MEGAPORT FPO, and ResMed Inc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders Limited and MEGAPORT FPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why are ASX 200 mining shares getting blasted on Wednesday?

    A businessman's head explodes.A businessman's head explodes.

    It’s a bloodbath among S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining shares today, with many of the market’s biggest materials stocks tumbling.

    Stock in resources giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is plummeting 2.1% at the time of writing.

    Its heavyweight peers, Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), are also suffering. Their share prices have fallen 1.45% and 2.2%, respectively.

    So, what’s weighing on most of the market’s favourite ASX 200 mining shares today? Let’s take a look.

    ASX 200 mining shares tumble on Wednesday

    The ASX 200 is suffering on Wednesday, having fallen 1.4% right now. And the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is among its worst performing sectors.

    The materials sector is currently down 1.69%, with only a few stocks defying its sell-off.

    Lithium stocks Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) are currently in the green, lifting 1.66 and 1.67% respectively.

    The share prices of Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL), and Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) are also gaining, having risen 0.89%, 0.68%, and 0.31% respectively.

    But, aside from a select few, most ASX 200 mining shares are tumbling lower.

    Their suffering follows a rough night for commodity prices. While certain base metals, including copper, lead, and nickel, posted slight gains overnight, iron ore slumped.

    Iron ore futures fell 0.9% to US$97.61 a tonne amid continuing reports of COVID-induced lockdowns and restrictions in China. Gold futures, however, lifted 0.6% to US$1,712.90 per ounce.

    Today’s worst performing ASX 200 mining share is Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN). Its share price has dumped 12.13% at the time of writing.

    The post Why are ASX 200 mining shares getting blasted on Wednesday? 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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

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  • The Ethereum price just dropped 8% despite Merge progression

    A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.

    A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.

    The Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) price is taking a tumble.

    The world’s number two crypto by market cap is currently trading for US$1,508 (AU$2,246), down 8.2% since this time yesterday.

    That puts Ethereum down 60% year to date and leaves the token with a market valuation of US$184 billion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

    Why is the Ethereum price falling?

    It’s far from just the Ethereum price that’s falling.

    In fact, only two of the top 100 cryptos by market cap are in the green over the past 24 hours.

    This again mirrors the action we’re seeing across other risk assets.

    The tech-heavy NASDAQ, a good proxy for investor risk appetite, fell for a seventh consecutive trading day yesterday (overnight Aussie time), closing down 0.7%. And futures indicate the index is in for another decline tomorrow.

    The NASDAQ is now down 27.1% in 2022, a bit less than half the Ethereum price loss.

    The reason, as you’re likely aware, remains investor concerns about high inflation, fast-rising interest rates, and possible recessions looming in the United States and European Union. None of which look to benefit cryptos or other risk assets in the short-term.

    What about the Merge?

    The Ethereum price has been outperforming the likes of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) over the past few months as investors eye the upcoming Merge, slated for 15 September.

    The first stage of the process went live yesterday.

    If you’re not familiar, the Merge will see the Ethereum blockchain transition from proof of work (POW) to proof of stake (POS). Under POS, a much smaller number of validators will stake some of their Ether holdings to verify transactions and secure the blockchain.

    Supporters say it will be faster, cheaper, and use far less energy than the current POW protocol.

    Many crypto investors are also hoping it will offer some sustained tailwinds for the Ethereum price.

    Though that remains to be seen.

    Commenting on the Merge, eToro’s market analyst and crypto expert Simon Peters said:

    With the Merge just over a week away, many are now starting to speculate as to how the blockchain will operate – and how successfully – moving forward. However, some analysts now expect the switch to proof of stake to lower its energy consumption, potentially by 99%. For context, this would equate to the electricity consumption of Portugal.

    The post The Ethereum price just dropped 8% despite Merge progression 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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

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  • Could these ‘little’ businesses be a secret weapon for Wesfarmers shares?

    A woman sits at her computer with her hand to her mouth and a contemplative smile on her face as she reads about the performance of Allkem shares on her computer

    A woman sits at her computer with her hand to her mouth and a contemplative smile on her face as she reads about the performance of Allkem shares on her computer

    When investors think of Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares, they may think of businesses like Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks.

    But, there are plenty of other businesses within the company including Target, Catch, Priceline, and a number of other businesses.

    And investors shouldn’t discount those other business segments because they’re actually already making significant profits for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share.

    Strong growth in FY22 from unsung businesses

    The 2022 financial year was such a strong showing that one of the non-retail segments generated more profit than Kmart Group.

    In FY22, Bunnings generated $2.2 billion of earnings before tax (EBT) and $945 million in the second half of FY22.

    Kmart and Target saw $505 million of EBT (down 31.7%) in FY22 and $283 million (up 19.4%) in the second half.

    Officeworks reported FY22 EBT of $181 million (down 14.6%) and $99 million in the second half (down 11.6%).

    Now let’s look at some of the unsung businesses.

    Wesfarmers chemicals, energy, and fertilisers (WesCEF) saw “record earnings”, with a strong operational performance and higher global commodity prices. Full-year EBT jumped 40.6% to $540 million while second-half EBT climbed 43.8% to $322 million. As this shows, it was the second biggest profit generator for Wesfarmers, only behind Bunnings. The segment is certainly growing in importance for Wesfarmers shares.

    Meanwhile, the industrial and safety division saw a “continued improvement in performance and profitability”. There was sales growth and additional operating efficiencies, as well as increased demand from Coregas healthcare and industrial customers. FY22 EBT grew 31.4% to $92 million while second-half earnings soared 54.5% to $51 million.

    Is there more growth to come?

    It has been a strong period for WesCEF, benefiting from a favourable ammonia price and continued strong demand from mining customers. Wesfarmers is currently working on its lithium project called Mt Holland, with WesCEF playing an important part in the development. Managing director Rob Scott said:

    We see WesCEF as an important driver of long term growth and the team continued to progress capacity expansion opportunities this year. Good progress also continued on the development of the Mount Holland lithium project, with the village and aerodrome completed and pre-strip mining and the construction of the concentrator and refinery advancing. The WesCEF lithium team is progressing discussions with key customers which continue to be supported by very strong market fundamentals.

    When Wesfarmers announced its FY22 result, the company also said that the chemicals business is expected to continue benefiting from strong global commodity prices, with strong demand from the WA mining sector expected to continue. It will continue to progress engineering studies evaluating production capacity expansions.

    In the fertilisers business, good 2022 seasonal conditions are reflected in “positive grower sentiment”, though high fertiliser input prices may “moderate application rates in 2023”.

    Regarding its lithium exposure, Wesfarmers said that construction activity continues, while lithium market fundamentals remain favourable, underpinned by the growing demand for battery electric vehicles. Meanwhile, negotiations to supply lithium hydroxide to key counterparties are underway.

    The outlook for the industrial and safety businesses are focused on “driving improvements in performance and profitability, strengthening the customer value proposition and executing new growth opportunities”, the company says.

    It seems like Wesfarmers is building a strong earnings base away from retail, which is useful as Australia goes through an uncertain environment for retailers.

    Wesfarmers share price snapshot

    Over the last six months, Wesfarmers shares are down around 5%.

    The post Could these ‘little’ businesses be a secret weapon for Wesfarmers shares? 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    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 Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday

    It’s been a rather horrible day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far this Wednesday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is awash with red ink, banking a nasty loss of 1.45% at just over 6,720 points.

    But let’s not dwell to long on that. So instead, it’s time to check out the ASX shares currently at the top of the ASX 200’s share trading volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Wednesday

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Our first ASX 200 share today is the blue-chip telco Telstra. So far this Wednesday, a hefty 21.34 million Telstra shares have been connected to a new owner. There hasn’t been too much in the way of news or announcements out of Telstra today.

    So we can probably pin this elevated volume on the volatility we have seen in the telco’s shares during the current session. At present, Telstra is flat at yesterday’s closing price of $3.89 a share, belying its previous hive of activity. But the company initially opened in the green this morning before falling all the way down to $3.84.

    Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE)

    ASX 200 lithium share Lake Resources is next up this Wednesday. So far today, a sizeable 22.95 million Lake shares have been bought and sold. This could be a byproduct of the news that the company put out this morning.

    As my Fool colleague Brooke dug into this morning, Lake Resources has named a new CEO and managing director in David Dickson. Investors seem to approve of the new leader, with the Lake Resources share price up a robust 2.07% so far today to $1.23 a share. This looks to be the cause of the high volumes we see.

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Last but certainly not least, in terms of trading volume, we have the ASX 200 lithium producer Pilbara Minerals. Pilbara has seen a whopping 24.8 million of its shares trade hands on the markets as it currently stands.

    This looks like a consequence of the new record-high Pilbara printed this morning. As we covered earlier today, Pilbara shares hit a new record high of $4.03 around lunchtime. The company has since cooled and is now at $3.94 a share, down 0.51% for the day so far. But there’s little doubt the elevated trading volumes we are witnessing can be pinned on this new high.

    The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • The Bitcoin price just fell below US$19,000 What’s happening?

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price is down 5.6% over the past 24 hours.

    The world’s top crypto is currently trading for US$18,714 (AU$27,893).

    With the Bitcoin price down 61% year to date, the token’s market cap now stands at US$358.7 billion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

    That’s a far cry from the US$1.3 trillion market valuation BTC commanded at its peak on 10 November last year.

    In fact, with the vast majority of altcoins also sharply lower, the total crypto-sphere market cap has sunk below the US$1 trillion mark.

    So, what’s going on?

    Why is the Bitcoin price in retreat?

    Bitcoin and most all altcoins, stablecoins aside, have been trading in line with risk assets throughout 2022.

    And risk assets have taken a drubbing as leading central banks pivot from a decade of accommodative monetary policies to aggressive tightening as inflation rates across the globe skyrocket.

    In US markets, the tech-heavy NASDAQ fell 0.7% yesterday (overnight Aussie time). That’s the seventh day of losses in a row for the index. The NASDAQ is now down 27.1% year to date.

    And it’s looking increasingly likely that the world’s top economy may slip into recession.

    A note out of Blackrock cautioned, “We think getting inflation back to central bank targets means crushing demand with a recession. That’s bad news for risk assets in the near term.”

    And bad news for the Bitcoin price as well.

    According to head of investment insights at IDEG Asset Management Kevin Loo (courtesy of Bloomberg):

    The macro narrative is very hard to be able to let go and will drive risk assets. Bitcoin is below $20,000. We have been here before and it’s likely that we could actually go slightly lower.

    A buying opportunity?

    However, the big Bitcoin price falls are seen as a buying opportunity by some crypto investors.

    “Under the hood, moreover, I think you’re seeing institutions gobble up coins when BTC drops below $20,000,” founder of GOGO Protocol Garry Krugljakow said.

    Loo also remains bullish on the long-term outlook for the world’s original crypto.

    “Bitcoin was at $3,000 in the first crypto winter and if you measure trough to trough, the trend is we are heading higher in the longer term,” he said.

    The post The Bitcoin price just fell below US$19,000 What’s happening? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bitcoin 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 are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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

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  • 2 ASX All Ordinaries shares that defied today’s sell-off to crack new highs

    Two kids in superhero capes.Two kids in superhero capes.

    The Australian market is tumbling today following a poor session on Wall Street overnight, with the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) recording a 1.43% fall at the time of writing. But not all ASX All Ordinaries shares are suffering.

    We’ve rounded up two that are not only outperforming today but have lifted to new all-time highs.

    So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the ASX All Ordinaries shares that resisted the worst of today’s sell-off.

    2 ASX All Ordinaries shares breaking records on Wednesday

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Stock in Pilbara Minerals is outperforming today. It rocketed to its highest point ever earlier today –reaching a high of $4.03 a share. That marked a 1.76% gain on its previous close.

    It comes after JP Morgan analyst Lydon Fagan reportedly upped the broker’s price target for the ASX All Ordinaries share and its expectations for lithium prices earlier this week.

    Pilbara Minerals’ stock is now tipped to lift to $4.10 – representing an upside of more than 4% on its current level, The Australian reported.

    The company also reported its maiden profit just over a fortnight ago.

    Sadly, the stock hasn’t held onto its gains. The Pilbara Minerals share price is currently trading at $3.935, 0.63% lower than its previous close.

    Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

    The Yancoal share price also rocketed to a record high today. It struck $6.88 in early morning trade, representing a 2.5% gain.

    The stock has been on the up and up lately, alongside many other ASX energy shares, amid news from Europe.

    The Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which transports gas from Russia to Germany, was shut indefinitely over the weekend.

    That will likely cause demand for coal and gas to soar as Europe’s winter approaches, thereby pushing up energy commodity prices.

    Stock in the ASX All Ordinaries share has slipped into the red this afternoon. It’s currently trading at $6.67, 0.6% lower than its previous close.

    The post 2 ASX All Ordinaries shares that defied today’s sell-off to crack new highs 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • This ASX mining share is soaring 15% on a ‘breakthrough’ discovery

    A miner in hardhat and high visibility clothing makes a thumbs up symbol against a blue sky.A miner in hardhat and high visibility clothing makes a thumbs up symbol against a blue sky.

    The Tennant Minerals Ltd (ASX: TMS) share price is breaking serious ground in Monday afternoon trade. It comes after the company posted drilling results from its Bluebird Discovery site in Australia’s Northern Territory.

    Shares of the copper and gold exploration company trade for 4.6 cents and are up 15% for the day. Tennant Minerals shares previously closed for 4 cents each.

    Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is in the red today, losing 2%.

    Let’s go over the highlights of the discovery.

    What did Tennant Minerals discover?

    Drilling found “exceptionally high-grade copper-gold sulphide intersections”. This included significant deposits of chalcocite containing copper grades up to 54.5% purity and gold grades of approximately 39 grams per tonne.

    Tennant Minerals chair Matthew Driscoll commented on the discovery:

    The latest thick and high-grade copper and gold intersections from our Bluebird diamond drilling program are a real breakthrough. The recognition that the majority of the high-grade copper mineralisation is in sulphides has given impetus to our down hole EM program, to detect extensions to this high-grade copper-gold discovery. We have also commenced an IP geophysical survey over Bluebird to fingerprint the copper sulphide mineralisation, which will help us prioritise the up to 12 geophysical targets within the Bluebird-Perseverance Target Zone for drill-testing. This will give us even more confidence that Bluebird is just one of several high-grade copper and gold deposits awaiting discovery within the Company’s broader Barkly Project.

    Assay results are pending for two more completed holes, as drilling intersected hematite and visible copper sulphide mineralisation.

    The price of gold is down 0.38% today, while copper is up 0.7%, according to Markets Insider.

    Tennant Minerals share price snapshot

    The Tennant Minerals share price is up 31.4% year to date. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 9.66% over the same period.

    The company’s market capitalisation is $28.36 million.

    The post This ASX mining share is soaring 15% on a ‘breakthrough’ discovery appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Tennant Minerals Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Tennant Minerals Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Tennant Minerals 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 are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Matthew Farley 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.

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  • When the bear market lows will arrive: Morgan Stanley

    A large brown grizzly bear follows a male hiker who walks along a path littered with leaves in the woodest forest.

    A large brown grizzly bear follows a male hiker who walks along a path littered with leaves in the woodest forest.

    Today’s nasty dip in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) reminds us that we are still in a tough time for ASX shares. A bear market is defined as a period following a 20% or more decline from an index’s last all-time high. It’s only over once markets have lifted 20% from a new low.

    Now, the ASX 200 Index is not yet in a bear market. That doesn’t mean the 15.1% or so drop that the ASX 200 suffered between August 2021 and June 2022 wasn’t painful.

    However, the flagship US S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP: .INX) is in a bear market right now. The S&P 500 last peaked in late December 2021. But by mid-June, it had fallen by roughly 23%. Since it’s only up around 6% or so from those lows, the S&P 500 is still in bear market territory.

    Now, we Australians might claim a victory in that our index, the ASX 200, is not in a bear market, while the US S&P 500 is. But remember, the ASX 200 and the US markets are incredibly correlated. So this victory might well prove to be a pyrrhic one. Especially if the US markets experience another downturn.

    Well, time to bring in what one expert investor reckons.

    Morgan Stanley: The bear market isn’t over just yet

    According to reporting in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) today, Morgan Stanley reckons that investors haven’t seen the worst of the US bear market just yet.

    Morgan Stanley’s chief equity strategist Mike Wilson has predicted that “slowing economic growth will become a bigger concern for stocks than inflation or the Federal Reserve were in the first half of this year”.

    As such, he sees the S&P 500 heading even lower over the rest of the year:

    While acknowledging the poor performance in equities year-to-date, we do not think the bear market is over if our earnings forecasts are correct…

    More specifically, we think the lows for this bear market will likely arrive in the fourth quarter with 3400 [points on the S&P 500 Index] the minimum downside and 3000 the low if a recession arrives (in line with our well-established base and bear case tactical views, respectively).

    From there, we think prices will recover to our base (3900) or bear (3350) case June 2023 targets. In the very near term, if back-end rates fall, stocks may hold up or even rally until later this month when QT potentially increases and earnings estimates are likely revised lower.

    So this is potentially terrible news for ASX shares if Wilson’s predictions come true. It’s hard to see the ASX 200 holding up if the S&P 500 does indeed sink to 4,400 points or lower (it’s currently just over 3,900 points).

    Short-term pains, long-term gains?

    But it’s also worth pointing out that these are just short-term predictions. No one, not even Warren Buffett, knows what is going to happen in the short term, whether that’s on the ASX 200 or the S&P 500.

    And the best investors know that it’s the long term we should all be focusing on, not the short term. Let’s leave with some thoughts on that matter from our own chief investment officer Scott Phillips from last month:

    The time to buy – to get real value – is when others aren’t. When the value of the business’ future profits is being ignored by investors. Times like, well, perhaps now…

    If I’m right, and the future is bright for democratic capitalism (and for the ASX and many, perhaps most, of the companies listed on our bourse), then this is the time you want to be investing.

    Not because I know it’s the bottom. Not because shares can’t fall further. But because if the future is brighter than the present, waiting would, on average, seem counterproductive, no?

    The post When the bear market lows will arrive: Morgan Stanley 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of August 4 2022

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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.

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