Tag: Motley Fool

  • Core Lithium share price gives up early gains to close 5% lower

    A man sits in front of his laptop computer with his head on his hand and a sad, dejected look on his face after seeing how far Whitehaven shares have fallen todayA man sits in front of his laptop computer with his head on his hand and a sad, dejected look on his face after seeing how far Whitehaven shares have fallen today

    The Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) share price dumped its early gains on Tuesday before plunging into the red.

    The lithium developer released seemingly good news of its Finniss Project this morning, sending its share price up to 3% higher in early trade.

    However, come Tuesday’s close, the Core Lithium share price finished at $1.265, 4.53% lower than its previous close.

    Today was also a rough day for the broader market.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) both slipped lower. They fell 0.42% and 0.47% respectively as the cash rate was increased for the first time in years.

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

    What went wrong for the Core Lithium share price?

    The Core Lithium share price’s initial gains turned sour on Tuesday. The stock’s rollercoaster performance followed the release of good news about the Finniss Lithium Project.

    The Northern Territory’s Minister of Environment, Eva Lawler, has given the thumbs up to an underground mine at the project.

    Now, the company will work to submit a mine management plan to the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade.

    Core Lithium expects the first ore from the project to be on board ships at the end of 2022.

    However, Core Lithium wasn’t the only ASX lithium share to trade in the red today.

    It was joined by the likes of Argosy Minerals Limited (ASX: AGY), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), and Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR).

    The post Core Lithium share price gives up early gains to close 5% lower appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Core Lithium, 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 Core Lithium 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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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  • Here’s how the Ethereum price stacked up in April

    A woman sits at a computer with a quizzical look on her face with eyerows raised while looking into a computer, as though she is resigned to some not pleasing news.

    A woman sits at a computer with a quizzical look on her face with eyerows raised while looking into a computer, as though she is resigned to some not pleasing news.

    After gaining an impressive 25% in March, the Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) price went the other direction in April.

    Ethereum started the month worth US$3,282. By 30 April, it was trading for US$2,827, down 14%.

    What impacted the Ethereum price in April?

    The world’s number two crypto was hit by the same headwinds that saw risk assets, like high growth tech shares, tumble in April.

    Atop fears of slowing economic growth out of China, where authorities continue to lockdown millions of residents in efforts to eliminate COVID-19, crypto investors have been keeping a wary eye on the rate hike plans of global central banks.

    Higher interest rates increase the cost of holding money. And with the US Federal Reserve and other leading central banks like the RBA poised for a series of rate increases, the tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 14% last month. The same losses, you’ll notice, posted by the Ethereum price.

    And Ethereum was far from the only crypto that fell hard in April. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) lost 17% over the 30 days.

    Some analysts are predicting a bounce for the Ethereum price as its blockchain moves from a proof-of-work protocol to a proof-of-stake protocol. A move that will greatly reduce costs and its staggering energy use and carbon emissions. But little fresh news about the so-called Merge hit the crypto markets in April.

    Volatility continues

    Demonstrating the continuing volatility among even the top cryptos, the Ethereum price reached lows of US$2,727 during April while peaking at US$3,574, according to data from CoinMarketCap. That’s a range of some 31%.

    At the current price of US$2,842, Ethereum is down 42% from its 16 November all-time highs. It now has a market cap of US$343.6 billion.

    The post Here’s how the Ethereum price stacked up in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Ethereum, 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 Ethereum 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    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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  • 3 reasons not to worry about a stock market crash

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

    A worried man holds his head and look at his computer as the Megaport share price crashes today

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

    The stock market could very well crash in the coming months. This might sound like bad news if you have a lot of your hard-earned money invested and you’re afraid to see your portfolio balance fall. 

    But a market crash isn’t something to fear. In fact, there are three big reasons you shouldn’t be concerned as long as you’ve got investments you believe in.

    1. Market crashes are inevitable

    Worrying about a stock market crash is like worrying about a rainstorm. It’s not worth it because a crash is as inevitable as a rainy day. Crashes have always been part of the natural economic cycle and if you are prepared, you can easily weather the storm.

    But just because you don’t need to worry about rain doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an umbrella. In this case, your umbrella is a portfolio strong enough to make it through unscathed. Doing this involves smart strategies including investing for the long term and building a portfolio made up of a diverse mix of assets. 

    2. Recoveries always follow crashes

    A market crash can send your investments plummeting, but just as there have always been crashes, recoveries have always inevitably followed like a rainbow after a storm.

    The recovery may take months, or even years. But over time, the market has consistently gone up and never experienced a downturn that didn’t eventually reverse itself. 

    If you have investments you believe in, just hold them through the crash and wait for the price of your shares to bounce back. Any losses will be temporary and only on paper, and you should end up earning positive returns over the long haul if you’ve invested wisely.  

    3. Crashes present buying opportunities

    Lasty, rather than worrying about a market crash, you should view it as an opportunity. Contrary to what your instincts may tell you, it’s a good idea to invest more when a crash has occurred. You can buy shares of good companies when they are on sale and benefit from the discount. 

    You don’t necessarily want to try to time the market to buy at rock-bottom prices since you can’t always tell exactly when the crash will end and recovery will begin. So if you consistently buy stock as prices fall, it’s inevitable that you’ll buy some shares at an opportune time and see more profit because of it. 

    What should you do instead of worrying?

    If you want to make it through a crash unscathed, there are a few key things you need to do.

    First and foremost, don’t invest in anything that you wouldn’t be prepared to hold through a downturn. If you’re trying to make a quick buck with a short-term investment and you don’t trust that the company can survive tough economic times, you could suffer permanent losses if you have bad timing and buy before a crash occurs.

    Second, aim to have some cash available to invest when a crash happens so you have the opportunity to take advantage of discounts in companies you believe in. 

    And third, never panic-sell because doing so just locks in losses. Avoid checking your portfolio obsessively when times are tough and have enough confidence in your investment thesis to sit back and wait for the turnaround to come and your investments to rebound. 

    If you do these three things, a market crash shouldn’t be cause for any concern. 

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

    The post 3 reasons not to worry about a stock market crash 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    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.

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

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  • Here’s why the Metcash share price just hit a 15-year high

    a person stands on top of a mountain with hands raised above their head gazing on an amazing sunrise over the landscape and above the clouds.

    a person stands on top of a mountain with hands raised above their head gazing on an amazing sunrise over the landscape and above the clouds.

    This Tuesday has given ASX investors a bit of a wild ride. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished down 0.42% at just over 7,320 points after multiple stints in both positive and negative territory today. But it has been a far happier day for the Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) share price.

    Metcash shares closed 0.84% higher at $4.82 a share. But earlier in the trading day, Metcash rose as high as $4.90 a share. That was a new 52-week high for the company, as well as representing the highest level Metcash shares have been since 2007, before the onset of the global financial crisis.

    The operator of the IGA chain of supermarkets, as well as hardware chain Mitre 10, has been on a tear for a while now. The Metcash share price is up 7% over 2022 thus far, healthily outperforming the ASX 200 Index. The company has also seen a gain of almost 36% over the past 12 months, and more than 120% over the past five years.

    So what had investors flocking to Metcash shares today?

    Why is the Metcash share price at a 15-year high?

    Well, it’s possible that it could be a result of the announcement Metcash made this morning. The company told investors it has entered into a supply agreement with Australian United Retailers. This will see Metcash “supply its national network of supermarkets and convenience stores, including its FoodWorks bannered supermarkets, for a further five-year period, commencing 1 July 2022”. 

    This gives Metcash and its investors some significant certainty, seeing as the company had been supplying Australian United Retailers’ 540-plus stores around Australia on a rolling 12-month contract basis since 2019.

    But this latest piece of news isn’t the only tailwind Metcash shares have been enjoying of late. As we’ve covered numerous times, Metcash has been the recipient of some love from more than one ASX broker over the past few months. Last month, my Fool colleague Tristan covered the buy ratings of both Macquarie and Credit Suisse on Metcash shares.

    So it could be a combination of these factors that have led Metcash shares to the levels we saw today. No doubt the company has some happy shareholders right now.

    At the current Metcash share price, this ASX 200 consumer staples share has a market capitalisation of $4.6 billion, with a dividend yield of 4.15%.

    The post Here’s why the Metcash share price just hit a 15-year high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Metcash, 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 Metcash 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 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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  • Hawsons Iron share price subjects investors to wild ride on Tuesday

    Scared looking people on a rollercoaster ride, just like the Afterpay share price in recent months.Scared looking people on a rollercoaster ride, just like the Afterpay share price in recent months.

    The Hawsons Iron Ltd (ASX: HIO) share price has been on a rollercoaster ride today.

    The company’s shares have closed down 18.64% to 72 cents. However, in earlier trade, the Hawsons Iron share price surged 21% above yesterday’s closing price of $1.07 before retreating.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) closed 0.84% lower today. The shares of iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) shed 4.69%.

    So what caused this ASX iron ore’s share price to fluctuate today?

    Share price fluctuates

    The Hawsons Iron share price went up and down like a yo-yo today despite no news from the company.

    It’s exploring the Hawsons Iron Project, 60km southwest of Broken Hill in New South Wales.

    In today’s news, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 35 basis points. As my Foolish colleague James reported, this sent the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down within minutes. The RBA board is preparing to increase interest rates further in the future. Interest rate rises can increase costs for many ASX shares, including mining companies.

    The iron ore price is flat today, however, it has fallen nearly 7.79% in a month, Trading Economics data shows.

    The Hawsons Iron Project has recently been granted a three-year extension of its major project status from the federal government.

    The company reported an $18.377 million cash balance in quarterly results, up to 31 March 2022.

    Share price snapshot

    The Hawsons Iron share price has surged about 1,675% in the past year while it has rocketed 168% in the past month.

    For perspective, the benchmark ASX index has gained about 4% over the past year.

    Hawsons Iron has a market capitalisation of about $536 million based on the current share price.

    The post Hawsons Iron share price subjects investors to wild ride on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Hawsons Iron right now?

    Before you consider Hawsons Iron , 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 Hawsons Iron 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

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

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  • Why is the Fortescue share price down 5% on Tuesday?

    Miner standing at quarry looking upsetMiner standing at quarry looking upset

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is coming under selling pressure today. This is despite the iron ore mining outfit not releasing any price-sensitive announcements to the ASX.

    At the time of writing, Fortescue shares are fetching at $20.67, down 4.53%.

    In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is also treading lower to 7,308.3 points, down 0.53%.

    Below, we take a look at what’s dragging the miner’s shares along with the benchmark index.

    Iron ore prices plummet

    After spending the last couple of months hovering around the US$150 barrier, iron ore prices have continued to fall.

    According to Trading Economics, the steel making ingredient is trading at US$142 per metric tonne as of last night. This represents a decline of 5.26% compared to this time last week.

    The sharp decrease will have an impact on Fortescue’s bottom line; however, profits are still expected to be churned out. The company reported industry leading C1 costs of US$15.28 per wet metric tonne for H1 FY22. C1 costs refer to the ‘direct’ production costs incurred in mining and processing the iron ore.

    China’s heavy-handed lockdown

    Weighing down the market price for iron ore, and effectively Fortescue’s shares, has been China’s COVID-19 situation.

    The government has amplified its already harsh restrictions on Chinese residents to achieve its strict zero-COVID policy.

    Repeat testing as well as barring access to public places without a negative result has been initiated in the capital of Beijing.

    China is seeking to limit the spread and the chaos that ensued in its most populous city, Shanghai.

    It’s worth noting that with the economic conditions rife, the construction sector has been hampered. This has led to the shrinking price of iron ore as demand wanes.

    RBA increases rates

    Another factor playing again Fortescue is the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifting its official cash rate by 0.25% today.

    Notably, this is the first time the RBA has increased its rates since the Julia Gillard era in November 2010.

    With the official cash rate now at 0.35%, which has pushed the ASX deeper in the red during afternoon trade.

    The RBA is using its tools to curb inflation which has risen 5.1% on an annualised basis.

    Fortescue share price snapshot

    Regardless of Fortescue shares being lower today, its shares have gained 8% since the start of 2022.

    Based on valuation metrics, Fortescue presides a market capitalisation of approximately $65.34 billion.

    The post Why is the Fortescue share price down 5% on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Fortescue, 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 Fortescue 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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

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  • Here’s how some of the biggest ASX 200 shares are responding to RBA’s rate rise

    Two men lok sxcited on the trading floor.

    Two men lok sxcited on the trading floor.

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.35%. S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are already reacting.

    Market commentators have been speculating whether the interest rate rise would happen this month or next month. The RBA took the plunge and increased rates today, signalling more increases were on the way.

    RBA governor Philip Lowe said:

    The Board is committed to doing what is necessary to ensure that inflation in Australia returns to target over time. This will require a further lift in interest rates over the period ahead. The Board will continue to closely monitor the incoming information and evolving balance of risks as it determines the timing and extent of future interest rate increases.

    How are ASX 200 shares responding?

    Changes to the RBA interest rate may have different impacts on the profit and loss, and valuations, of different businesses.

    Banks are some of the biggest businesses in Australia and interest rates play a significant part in their margins.

    Economists at the big four ASX banks were predicting that interest rates would start increasing this month or next month. However, there is a question of how much of the rate hike they will pass on and when.

    At the time of writing, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is down 0.5% and the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is down around 0.68%. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is up slightly by 0.04%.

    However, other banks have reacted differently. At the time of writing, the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is up 0.29% and the Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is up 0.34%, though it earns less of its net profit from Australia than the other big banks.

    With all of the big banks scheduled to release a profit result/update in May, they may include some commentary regarding impacts on the net interest margin (NIM) as interest rates increase.

    The biggest ASX 200 mining shares are all in the red.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is down 0.77%, the Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is down a hefty 4.9%, and the Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price is down 1.66%.

    Some of the biggest consumer-facing ASX 200 shares are also seeing movement today.

    At the time of writing, the Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is up 0.59% and the Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is up 0.43%. However, the Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price is down 0.4%.

    Why did the RBA increase the interest rate?

    Dr Lowe explained what’s going on in the economy and why the RBA saw the need to react quickly:

    The Board judged that now was the right time to begin withdrawing some of the extraordinary monetary support that was put in place to help the Australian economy during the pandemic. The economy has proven to be resilient and inflation has picked up more quickly, and to a higher level, than was expected. There is also evidence that wages growth is picking up. Given this, and the very low level of interest rates, it is appropriate to start the process of normalising monetary conditions.

    Inflation has picked up significantly and by more than expected, although it remains lower than in most other advanced economies. Over the year to the March quarter, headline inflation was 5.1 per cent and in underlying terms inflation was 3.7 per cent…A further rise in inflation is expected in the near term.

    The post Here’s how some of the biggest ASX 200 shares are responding to RBA’s rate rise 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Fortescue Metals Group 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 COLESGROUP DEF SET and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group Limited and Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • What’s driving the Graincorp share price to all-time highs?

    Agricultural ASX share price on watch represented by farmer in field looking at tablet computerAgricultural ASX share price on watch represented by farmer in field looking at tablet computer

    The Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) share price is lifting once more on Tuesday. In fact, it surged more than 2% to a new record high in intraday trade.

    It’s the third session in a row the agribusiness has struck the milestone despite no word having been released by the company since early April.

    At the time of writing, the Graincorp share price is $10.51, 0.96% higher than its previous close.

    Though, earlier today it hit a high of $10.64, representing a 2.2% gain and new record high.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slipped 0.51% today amid the Reserve Bank’s decision to increase the cash rate.

    Let’s take a look at what’s boosting the Graincorp share price to never-before-seen heights today.

    Why’s the Graincorp share price trading at a record high?

    The Graincorp share price hit a new all-time high on Tuesday following months of strong performance.  

    Way back in February the company revealed its expectation that financial year 2022 would bring it underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of between $480 million and $540 million and underlying net profits after tax (NPAT) of $235 million to $280 million.

    That guidance was a significant step up from the company’s financial year 2021 earnings.

    Its heightened expectations were due to its strong Australian production alongside a supply shortage in the Northern Hemisphere.

    That guidance upgrade likely sated many bullish market watchers. But it didn’t end there.

    Global demand for grain and oil skyrocketed soon after the upgrade on the back of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Additionally, the company dodged potentially major disruptions from weather events on Australia’s east coast while conditions for its winter crop remained excellent.

    As a result, it upgraded its guidance once more in April.

    Graincorp now expects to report between $590 million and $670 million of underlying EBITDA. It’s also forecasting underlying NPAT of between $130 million and $370 million.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Graincorp share price has gained nearly 25% since the start of 2022, helping it reach today’s record high.

    The post What’s driving the Graincorp share price to all-time highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Graincorp, 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 Graincorp 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.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

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

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  • AGL share price dips despite $2 billion energy transition deal

    A girl holding a globe shouts into a green megaphone about climate change.A girl holding a globe shouts into a green megaphone about climate change.

    The AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) share price is taking the foot off the gas on Tuesday amid an eventful morning.

    Shares in the energy retailer are coming under pressure after announcing a monumental deal to help make green strides. At the time of writing, the AGL share price is swapping hands at $8.38, representing a decrease of 2.8%.

    Green funding secured amid Mike Cannon-Brookes turmoil

    This week is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the AGL share price and the company more broadly. However, the eventfulness is not translating into a positive reception. Instead, the energy company appears to be shrouded in uncertainty now more than ever.

    In a release, AGL revealed $2 billion in funding from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for its Energy Transition Investment Partnership (ETIP). This will see the New York City investment fund take a 49% equity interest in AGL’s ETIP.

    Importantly, the fund will be used to develop, own, and operate an initial estimate of 2.7 gigawatts of renewable assets under the proposed AGL demerged entity, Accel Energy. The deal will also see GIP pay an upfront $40 million in cash to Accel as part of its $94 million investment.

    While the deal is significant for the company’s plans to turn a new leaf, the announcement is clouded by the latest development in the Mike Cannon-Brookes saga. As my colleague Tristan detailed covered, the Atlassian billionaire is looking to foil the AGL demerger.

    To do this, Cannon-Brookes has taken an 11.3% stake in the company. Nonetheless, the weakness in the AGL share price is prevailing.

    What does the funding really mean?

    Essentially, the $2 billion of funding will help AGL Energy in establishing itself as a renewable energy provider. As noted in the announcement, projects already mapped out include:

    • Liddel Battery (NSW)
    • Loy Yang Battery (VIC)
    • Bells Mountain Pumped Hydro (NSW)
    • Barn Hill Wind Farm (SA)

    Commenting on the deal, AGL CEO and managing director Graeme Hunt said:

    There was strong interest shown in ETIP by a number of globally renowned infrastructure investors, and we are excited to have selected Global Infrastructure Partners. The establishment of ETIP will support Accel in funding low-carbon developments whilst providing Global Infrastructure Partners exclusive access to a portfolio of investments. If all the Foundation Projects in ETIP were to proceed, it would represent an investment of approximately $4.7 billion into the future of energy in Australia.

    AGL share price still ahead

    Despite the drama surrounding the energy giant and its dance with Mike Cannon-Brookes, the AGL share price has delivered so far this year.

    Notably, major ASX-listed utility companies have all enjoyed green performances in 2022. However, AGL has surpassed its peers with a gain of 31.6% year-to-date.

    At present, AGL holds a market capitalisation of $5.59 billion.

    The post AGL share price dips despite $2 billion energy transition deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday

    Arrows pointing upwards with a man pointing his finger at one.

    Arrows pointing upwards with a man pointing his finger at one.

    What a rollercoaster the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on this Tuesday. The ASX 200 has been playing jump rope with the breakeven line all day. But the decision of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to increase interest rates this afternoon has seen the market slump. The ASX 200 is now down by 0.27% at just over 7,300 points. 

    But rather than trying to figure all of that out, let’s dig deeper into the markets and take a look at the ASX 200 shares that are currently at the top of ASX’s share volume charts, according to investing.com.

    The 3 most-traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Tuesday

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Our first notch on the belt today is ASX 200 telco Telstra. This telecommunications giant has had a hefty 11.66 million of its shares find a new home on the markets thus far. There’s not much in the way of news out from Telstra today, save for a share buyback notice. These ongoing buybacks themselves could help explain this volume. But no doubt the weakness of the Telstra share price is also assisting this volume. Telstra shares are currently down by 0.63% at $3.97 each.

    Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)

    ASX 200 alumina and aluminium producer Alumina is next up. So far today, a sizeable 12.47 million Alumina shares have been bought and sold on the markets. There’s nothing out from Alumina today at all. So it’s probably the volatility we have seen in the company’s share price today that has sparked so many shares trading. Alumina shares were up around 1.4% at one point today. But the company has fallen back to $1 a share this afternoon, flat on its closing price yesterday. 

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    Our third, final and most traded share of the day today is none other than ASX 200 lithium stock Pilbara Minerals. This Tuesday has seen a significant 16.36 million Pilbara shares trade hands as it currently stands. Once again, we seem to have some rather wild volatility to thank for this volume. Pilbara shares have been down 1.5%, up 1.5% and are now flat at $2.66 a share. No wonder so many shares have bounced around on the markets. 

    The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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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