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Shares in Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) climbed more than 6% during Thursday’s session, reaching a high of 34.5 cents several times throughout the trading day.

However, by the close of trade, the Resolute Mining share price had lost some of the ground it bought today finishing at 33 cents, still a lift of 3.13%.

Today, the company released its quarterly activities report for the period ending 31 March 2022. Let’s take a look.

Resolute Mining increases gold production by 2%

Key takeouts from Resolute’s results include:

• Quarterly gold production/poured of 81,770 ounces, an increase of 2% compared to last quarter
• All-in sustaining cost (AISC) $1,383/oz a 4% improvement over the prior quarter
• Quarterly gold sales of 88,773oz at an average realised gold price of $1,846/oz
• Cash and bullion of $103.9 million
• A reduction in net debt of $54.1 million to $174.7 million
• Asset sales proceeds of $43.7 million

What else happened for Resolute this quarter?

The company, which has gold mining and exploration operations in Australia and Africa, says its 2% increase in gold poured last quarter came from strong production across all operations.

Resolute advised that it realised an average gold price of $1,846/oz compared to the average spot price of $1,876/oz during the quarter.

Growth was recognised even with the shutdown of the Syama sulphide circuit in Mali in February and March this year.

Regarding its sulphide circuit, Resolute said performance had “improved, as anticipated following the
shutdown, with higher overall plant availability and throughput achieved during the first few weeks of the
current quarter.”

The Syama Oxide operation also saw an 18% increase in production from the last quarter, while the company’s Mako asset in Senegal came in line with expectations.

Meanwhile, the Syama Sulphide operations were flat and produced around 30,500 ounces, at an AISC of $1,365/oz.

Regarding recent geopolitical events in Mali, the company noted:

Resolute continues to monitor the political developments in Mali with operations at Syama continuing as normal with no current impact on production, supply, or employees and contractors’ safety and security. Resolute will continue to monitor and provide updates as appropriate.

Net debt also decreased to $174.7 million at the quarter’s end, and the company also spent $5.2 million on exploration. It has $278 million in additional liquidity through a term loan facility and revolving credit facility.

New leadership for Resolute

Earlier this month, Resolute advised that its COO, Terry Holohan, will step into the role of CEO effective 29 April 2022. The move comes after the resignation of former CEO and managing director Stuart Gale.

Mr Holohan is an experienced mining sector executive with more than forty years in the industry,
including seven years of experience as CEO for two mining companies. Thirty of those years have been spent working in Africa with a range of precious and base metals mining projects.

Mr Holohan was appointed as COO in May 2021 and since then has been responsible for all aspects of
the Company’s operations and projects. He has been instrumental in resetting the operations at the
Company’s Syama mine in Mali, where operations are progressing well and in line with expectations
following the recent planned sulphide plant shutdown.

Resolute Mining share price snapshot

The Resolute Mining share price has faltered in the last 12 months and now rests more than 27% in the red. This year to date, it has fallen 13% and is 8% down over the past week of trading.

The post Why the Resolute Mining share price soared 6% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• All that glitters isn’t gold: Here are the worst performing ASX mining shares of the quarter

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 Bruce Jackson.

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One of the traits that many investors find attractive about ASX shares is the dividends. Compared to many other markets around the world, especially the US, ASX shares offer very high dividends on average. Just think, four out of the top six shares on the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) are the big four banks. And the largest share on our share market by market capitalisation is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which has arguably made a name for itself in recent years as a dividend machine. Thus, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) should have the same reputation.

VAS is the most popular ETF on the ASX. It is the only ETF that covers the ASX 300 Index, thus tracking 300 of the largest shares on the share market. And since it holds BHP and the big four banks, as well as other ASX dividend shares like Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), it has some impressive dividend distribution chops of its own to brag about.

As it currently stands, VAS has paid out $4.66 in dividend distributions per unit over the past 12 months. On the current VAS unit price of $93.32, that gives this ETF a trailing yield of 4.99%. That is a very solid yield at any standard.

So how do VAS’s dividend distributions stack up?

But at its core, VAS is an index fund, not a dividend ETF. And the ASX has many other ETFs that purely focus on dividend income. So how does VAS’ income potential stack up against ETFs that actually prioritise income?

Well, let’s investigate. Vanguard itself runs an income-focused fund called the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY). Instead of the 300 or so holdings that VAS boasts, VHY instead only holds 64 dividend-paying shares.

Over the past 12 months, this ETF has paid out a total of $3.22 in dividend distributions per unit. On the current VHY unit price of $68.79, that gives this ETF a trailing yield of 4.68%. So yes, it appears Vanguard’s High Yield ETF currently has a lower trailing distribution yield than the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF.

The iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ETF (ASX: IHD) is another income-focused fund that is popular on the ASX. It also holds a more concentrated portfolio of ASX dividend payers at 48. Its current trailing yield sits at 5.22%. 

So it’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to high-yield ETFs compared to VAS. A thought to leave on though. Even though the iShares ETF offers the best yield of these three funds, it has returned a total of 5.81% per annum on average over the past 10 years. In contrast, VAS has almost doubled that return over the same period, giving its investors an average of 10.02% per annum. So high yields don’t always equate to higher returns. 

The post How does the VAS dividend compare to a high-yield ETF? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Own the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF? Here’s what you’re invested in
• Is the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF a good buy at current prices?
• How diversified is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF?
• Here’s why the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF rose 7% in March
• Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX:VAS) plummets! What’s going on?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Corporation Limited and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Lithium Plus Minerals Ltd (ASX: LPM) share price ascended again today, just three days after joining the ASX.

The ASX lithium share has exploded in value, with its share price up 266% over those three days. It closed the session on Thursday at 91.5 cents, up 5.17% for the day.

Let’s take a look at what is impressing ASX investors.

New to the ASX

Lithium Plus Minerals started trading on the ASX on Tuesday. Shares were initially offered to the public at 25 cents per share. The company raised $10 million from this initial public offering (IPO) to commence explorations for lithium at key projects in the Northern Territory.

Lithium Plus plans an aggressive drilling program targeting a mineral resource estimate in the first quarter of 2023, an investor presentation reveals.

The company’s flagship project is Bynoe, located near the Finniss Project owned by Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO).

The board is led by Dr Bin Guo, who is the executive chairman and founder of the company.

Commenting on the outlook for Lithium Plus Minerals, Guo said:

We are now simply excited to get started on aggressively exploring this world-class package of lithium ground.

More about Lithium Plus

Lithium Plus has 19 exploration licences approved across two areas, with three more on the way.

The company is working on five projects within these two areas. This includes Bynoe and Wingate within the Bynoe project area. And Barrow Creek, Spotted Wonder, and Moonlight within the Arunta project area. The Bynoe project is just 45km from the Darwin Port.

Lithium Plus had net cash of $10.34 million at the time of listing on Tuesday. Its market capitalisation is now about $84.39 million.

The post Lithium Plus Minerals share price surges again, up 266% in only 3 days of trading appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Lithium Plus Minerals share price explodes 180% on ASX debut

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 Bruce Jackson.

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What a month it has been for the Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price over April so far. Since the start of the month, Lynas shares have fallen from almost $11 to the late $8 mark we see today. That’s a drop of just over 16%.

To make things even more interesting, Lynas hit a new 10-year high of $11.59 a share on April 4. That means that the Lynas share price has fallen more than 22% from that high.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year thus far for Lynas shares. Before April, this rare earths company experienced more than one 20% drop and 20% rise, making it an incredibly volatile ASX 200 share. But the slippage we have seen over the past few weeks has been mostly in one direction.

It seems that the boost Lynas shares got from the announcement of the partnership between the US and Australian Governments to secure supply chains of critical minerals like the rare earths that Lynas produces has been short-lived.

So, now that Lynas shares have decisively come off the boil, many ASX investors might be wondering if this company could be a buy today.

16% down: Is the Lynas share price a buy or sell today?

Well, one ASX broker who likes the Lynas share price is Macquarie. As my Fool colleague Tristan covered earlier this month, analysts at Macquarie have rated Lynas shares as outperform, with a 12-month share price target of $12.60. That would be a rise of more than 40% if it plays out. Macquarie likes Lynas’ most recent half-year earnings results, as well as the higher prices Lynas is enjoying for its minerals.

However, this bullish position isn’t universally held. As we also covered earlier this month, fellow broker Goldman Sachs isn’t quite as optimistic. Goldman currently has a neutral rating on Lynas, with a 12-month share price target of $9.50. This broker prefers exposure to Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) over Lynas in the rare earths space. It is buy-rated on Iluka instead, with a 12-month share price target of $14.

So, a mixed opinion bag on Lynas shares right now from some of the top brokers of the ASX. Only time will tell who will end up being right.

Meantime, the current Lynas price gives this ASX 200 resources share a market capitalisation of $7.99 billion.

The post The Lynas share price has lost 16% in April, is it a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s going on with the Lynas share price today?
• ASX 200 midday update: AMP asset sale talks, Syrah rockets
• Why Adbri, Eroad, Lynas, and Perpetual shares are tumbling
• Should you buy Iluka or Lynas shares for rare earths exposure?
• Lynas share price lifts amid record quarterly result

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

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The St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) share price is heading south today despite the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tracking higher.

The gold miner released a trading update for the third quarter, but has failed to appease investors.

At the time of writing, St Barbara shares are down 2.61% to $1.305 apiece.

For context, the benchmark index is up 1.06% to 7,338.1 points following a rebound on Wall Street overnight.

Let’s take a look below and see how St Barbara performed for the March quarter.

How did St Barbara perform in Q3 FY22?

For the three months ending 31 March, St Barbara produced 61,819 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (ASIC) of $2,290 per attributable ounce. This was 6% lower than the 65,523 ounces of gold achieved at an ASIC of $1,587 in the prior quarter.

Management attributed the fall in group gold production to its subpar performance at Atlantic and Leonora.

The former was hindered by lower grades from the Touquoy pit and more severe than usual winter weather conditions. Leonora, on the other hand, was impacted by lower grade and lower third-party ore volumes.

Although production dropped at both sites, this was largely offset by the resumption of production at Simberi.

Operating cash flow stood at $2 million for the period. However, after growth capital, corporate costs and tax payments, net cash contribution was negative $18 million.

St Barbara sold 56,303 ounces of gold at an average price of $2,475 per ounce. This was noticeably lower than the 76,546 ounces sold at A$2,423 per ounce in Q2 FY22.

The gold miner ended the quarter with cash on hand of $79 million, down from $94 million on 31 December. Total debts remained unchanged which included a syndicated facility of C$80 million (A$88.61 million) and $50 million.

While the report failed to match the performance of the prior quarter, investors have headed for the exits. This has sent the St Barbara share price into negative territory, with now four days of consecutive losses.

What did the head of St Barbara say?

St Barbara managing director and CEO, Craig Jetson commented:

St Barbara remains positioned to deliver on our updated full year guidance and growth opportunities, despite marginally lower quarter on quarter production achieved in the March period.

Our Leonora Operations were impacted by ongoing skilled labour shortages in Western Australia which the team has done a great job managing but we remain conscious that it is an evolving landscape which requires constant management.

At Simberi our return to operations were interrupted by a COVID-19 outbreak on the island which temporarily raised operating costs and lowered production.

FY22 outlook

Looking ahead, St Barbara is expecting to achieve its updated production guidance for FY22.

Management is forecasting consolidated gold production of between 275,000 ounces and 290,000 ounces. This is assumed at an AISC of between $1,750 and $1,870 per ounce.

About the St Barbara share price

Since the start of September 2021, St Barbara shares have moved in circles despite the price of gold accelerating.

Its shares are down 30% over the past 12 months, with losses of 10% so far in 2022.

The company’s share price reached a multi-year low of $1.208 in late January.

Based on valuation metrics, St Barbara commands a market capitalisation of roughly $1.06 billion.

The post Here’s why the St Barbara share price is trailing the ASX 200 today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• Why is the Woolworths share price missing out on the ASX party today?
• ASX 200 midday update: Coles, Fortescue, and Pilbara Minerals release quarterly updates
• ‘No risk, no reward’: Exit ASX shares if you can’t stomach volatility, say experts
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 Bruce Jackson.

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Shares in Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX: SLR) are tracing lower today and now rest 7% down at $1.85 apiece.

The company also released its quarterly activities report for the three months ending 31 March 2022 today, leaving investors to digest the outcome.

Silver Lake withdraws guidance

Key takeouts from the company’s performance last quarter include:

• Quarterly production of 53,822 ounces gold and 262 tonnes copper (55,052 ounces gold equivalent)
• Sales of 55,390 ounces gold and 246 tonnes of copper at an average sales price of A$2,493/oz
• All-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$1,634/oz
• Cash and bullion of $287.3 million, excluding $17.7 million of gold in circuit and concentrate on hand
• Withdrew FY22 guidance due to Covid-19 related pressures on the labour market and supply chain interruptions

What else happened last quarter for Silver Lake?

The company notes that it was impacted by West Australian Government measures used to tackle the pandemic.

“March quarter operating results from Silver Lake’s Western Australian operations reflect the implications of the Western Australian Government response to COVID-19,” it said.

In particular, a combination of supply chain constraints, related definitions and treatment protocols have adversely impacted the availability of appropriately skilled professional, operational and maintenance personnel which has resulted in unavoidable disruptions to operations, an inflationary cost environment and heightened operational risk.

On that note, sales for the quarter were tilted towards the Deflector site. They came in line with the top end of the previous guidance, Silver Lake says.

However both the Deflector and Mount Monger sites saw a down-step in production this period whilst AISC remained relatively flat.

Meanwhile, gold bullion sales were down around 2% from the last quarter, whilst overall gold production was down by 4%.

Silver Lake also completed the acquisition of Harte Gold in February, taking control of operations as well from this date.

What’s next for Silver Lake Resources?

The company withdrew guidance today due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding Covid-19, and what this might mean for global supply chains and the domestic labour market.

“Whilst Silver Lake’s year to date operating performance has it positioned to meet FY22 group guidance,
the severe disruption of COVID-19 related labour shortages in March and April has exacerbated the already tight labour market and supply chain constraints,” it remarked.

Along the same lines, it continued:

As a result of the prolonged and continued uncertainty regarding Western Australian’s response to COVID19 and the implementation of a proportionate response to any future variants, Silver Lake believes it is unlikely to see an influx of international and interstate skilled workers returning to the Western Australian mining sector in the foreseeable future in preference to employment opportunities closer to home. Should these conditions and associated uncertainty continue, it will impact Silver Lake’s ability to provide robust guidance based on first principles assumptions and planning with an acceptable level of risk.

Accordingly, with the continuation of restrictions and isolation requirements on labour during Q4 FY22 and continued supply chain constraints, Silver Lake is withdrawing FY22 sales guidance as it cannot predict Q4 operating performance with an acceptable level of confidence for stakeholders to rely on.

Silver Lake Resources share price snapshot

In the last 12 months, the Silver Lake Resources share price has curled up by around 8%, and is surging more than 4% higher this year to date.

Over the past month however, it has slipped 15% into the red, and is down around 13% for the previous week of trade.

The post What just caused the Silver Lake share price to dive 7%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Cettire, Newcrest, Silver Lake, and Whispir shares are tumbling lower
• ASX 200 midday update: Coles, Fortescue, and Pilbara Minerals release quarterly updates

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is bouncing back from a multi-day slump on Thursday. These shares are helping to drive it upwards with each one hitting a new 52-week high.

Right now, the index is recording a 1.07% gain.

Here’s what is driving these ASX 200 shares to trade at their highest point in more than a year.

3 ASX 200 shares climbing to long-forgotten highs

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The share price of ASX 200 fuel and convenience retailer, Ampol, surged 4% to an intraday high of $33.55 on Thursday – a new post-COVID high.

The company has been quiet today. Though, it provided an update on its acquisition of Z Energy Ltd (ASX: ZEL) earlier this week.

The takeover was given the green light by the New Zealand High Court on Tuesday.

On the back of the thumbs up, trading of Z Energy shares will cease when the market closes tonight. The company will be delisted from the ASX on 10 May. Ampol is expected to take the reins that same day.

Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)

ASX 200 materials share, Orora is also reaching for the stars on Thursday. It rose 4.5% to trade at $3.96 in intraday trade. That’s the highest the stock has been in more than two years.

The packaging company’s investor day presentation appears to be the catalyst for today’s gains. In it, the company revealed its outlook for financial year 2022. It noted its operating and earnings momentum has continued beyond the release of its half-year results. It’s still expecting its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for this financial year to increase on that of financial year 2021.

The company also believes its upcoming final dividend will be at the top end of its targeted 60% to 80% payout range. Its recent eight-cent interim dividend was the highest ever offered by Orora.

Finally, Orora noted it is well placed to explore strategic acquisitions in the near-term.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

Another ASX 200 energy share joins today’s list. The Viva Energy share price reached an intraday high of $2.79 on Thursday – the highest it’s been since 2019.

There’s been no news out of the fuel provider to explain its share price gains today.

Right now, it’s the third-best performing S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) stock, trailing Ampol and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

The post 3 ASX 200 shares smashing new 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX All Ordinaries shares scaling new multi-year peaks today
• 3 ASX 300 shares smashing new multi-year highs on Wednesday
• ASX 200 lunch update: GrainCorp jumps on earnings upgrade, Pro Medicus signs $32m deal
• Ampol share price nears a new 52-week high following milestone approval
• Budget fuel excise cut: Which ASX shares could benefit?

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 Bruce Jackson.

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In some sweet relief, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is rebounding strongly today after the savage selloff we saw earlier in the week. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up by a healthy 1.14% at just over 7,340 points.

So let’s dig deeper into these gains and have a look at the shares currently topping the ASX 200’s volume charts, according to investing.com.

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

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

Paladin Energy is first up today. This ASX 200 uranium share has had a hefty 31.7 million of its shares change hands as it currently stands. Paladin is under pressure today after the release of its quarterly report for the three months ending 31 March.

As my Fool colleague Bernd covered, Paladin reported that its Langer Heinrich Mine remains in limbo. This seems to have spooked investors, who have sent the Paladin share price down by more than 5% today. These two events have likely resulted in the high trading volumes we are witnessing.

AVZ Minerals Ltd (ASX: AVZ)

ASX 200 lithium stock AVZ Minerals is our next cab off the rank today. AVZ has watched a notable 35.37 million of its shares trade on the markets thus far. This follows the release of the company’s own quarterly activities report this morning.

Investors mustn’t have liked what they saw, seeing as the AVZ share price is currently down by a nasty 4.46% at 96 cents a share, bucking the positive trend we see across some other ASX lithium stocks. It’s this sharp move downward that is probably behind this elevated trading volume we see. 

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

Financial services provider and former ASX 200 blue-chip AMP is our final and most traded share of the day thus far. At the time of writing, a whopping 45.09 million AMP shares have been bought and sold so far today. We don’t have to look too far for this one.

As we covered this morning, AMP has just reported that it has found a buyer for its Collimate Captial international infrastructure equity business in DigitalBridge. AMP is set to receive $699 million for this asset. Investors clearly approve, seeing as the AMP share price is currently up an impressive 14.63% so far today at $1.148 a share. No wonder so many AMP shares have found a new home today. 

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

More reading

• Why AMP, Fortescue, Pilbara Minerals, and Sandfire shares are racing higher
• Why is the Woolworths share price missing out on the ASX party today?
• AMP share price surges 11% as $699m Collimate deal confirmed
• ASX 200 midday update: Coles, Fortescue, and Pilbara Minerals release quarterly updates
• Paladin Energy share price dips as investors await restart of uranium mine

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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price is in the red on Thursday amid a probe into online retail marketplaces.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has highlighted concerns about competition and privacy across Australia’s major marketplace platforms.

The competition watchdog’s review focused on Australia’s 4 largest online marketplaces: Kogan, Amazon Australia, Catch, and Ebay Australia.

In light of its findings, the ACCC is considering introducing more regulatory framework regarding digital platform services.

At the time of writing, the Kogan share price is $4.53, 2.58% lower than its previous close.

For context, both the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) are in the green. Right now, they’ve gained 1.12% and 1.16% respectively.

Let’s take a closer look at what has concerned ACCC.

Kogan slumps as ACCC ponders new regulation

The Kogan share price is slumping amid concerns of marketplaces’ use of algorithms, consumer data, and dispute processes.

After concluding its probe, the ACCC believes the industry needs more consumer protections. Particularly, surrounding platforms’ control and involvement with transactions.

“Online marketplaces have an important role in connecting Australian consumers and sellers, and make up a growing share of consumer sales,” said ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb. “But we are concerned about their impact on both consumers and third-party sellers who rely on online marketplaces to reach their customers.”

The watchdog is also concerned over the use of ranking algorithms, which impact consumers’ purchasing decisions.

How much data platforms collect from consumers, as well as what that data is used for, also sparked worries.

Finally, a continued lack of dispute resolution processes has pushed the regulator to once again recommend the establishment of an ombudsman scheme to resolve complaints.

Following the probe, the ACCC is calling for platforms to offer consumers and sellers more information and control over how ranking algorithms work and what marketplaces are doing with their data.

The competition watchdog is also considering if Australia would benefit from new regulatory framework addressing competition and consumer concerns with digital platform services more broadly.

“Any such framework should be able to be applied to an online marketplace if it reaches a position where it could exercise a certain level of market power or, potentially, act as a gatekeeper between businesses and consumers,” said Cass-Gottlieb.

Kogan share price snapshot

This year has been rough on the Kogan share price.

It has tumbled 49% since the start of 2022. It is also nearly 58% lower than it was this time last year.

The post Kogan share price dips amid ACCC online marketplace probe appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX shares to consider amid the share market sell-off
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Why is the Kogan share price slipping to a 4-week low on Tuesday?
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. 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 Amazon and Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended eBay and has recommended the following options: short April 2022 $62.50 calls on eBay. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Kogan.com ltd and Wesfarmers Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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The Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX: NIC) share price is leaping today following the release of the company’s quarterly results. The ASX nickel producer’s share price is currently $1.22, a 5.8% gain. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.17% today.

Let’s take a look at the news Nickel Mines has for ASX investors today.

Nickel Mines share price jumps on quarterly results

Highlights included:

• Record US$81.7 million EBITDA from operations, up 18.7% on the December quarter
• 11,166 tonnes of 100% nickel produced, up 10.7%
• Record Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) EBITDA of US$72.8 million, up 19.7%
• US$7,386 per tonne of nickel sold, a 22.5% increase on the US$6,028 per tonne sold in the December quarter
• Sales revenue increased 4.4% to $195.4 million
• Underlying cash generation from operations of US$81.3 million, up 19.9%
• Hengjaya Mine production down 4.3% to 1,073,525 wet metric tonne (wmt)
• Final dividend of $0.02 per share declared.

What else happened during the quarter?

Underpinning this result were record sales from the Hengjaya and Ranger Nickel projects in Indonesia. A total of 10,089 tonnes of nickel was sold from these projects alone.

Nickel Mines is also exploring the Angel Nickel project, where sales are expected to start in the June quarter.

The revenue increase was driven by an US$823 per tonne jump in the realised price of nickel. Higher nickel prices were due to rising nickel ore costs and strong demand from the global stainless steel market. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and a global nickel short squeeze created supply issues.

The company signed its biggest ever Nickel pig iron (NPI) contracts in March and April from the Hengijaya Nickel and Ranger Nickel projects.

Operating cash costs at Hengjaya Nickel and Ranger Nickel fell during the third quarter. This was in stark contrast to the previous five quarters when prices increased.

Nickel Mines commissioned three Angel RKEF lines during the third quarter.

Nickel Mines also completed the take-up of a 10% interest in the Oracle Nickel Project.

Management comment

Commenting on the results, managing director Justin Werner said:

The March quarter was a milestone quarter for both the Company’s RKEF and mining operations with numerous production and financial records set.

With increasing production from both our RKEF and mining operations, underpinned by strong and stable operating margins, we are well positioned to deliver an exceptionally strong financial performance for our shareholders over the next 12 months.

What’s next?

Nickel Mines also advised the ASX today that the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board has no objection to Shanghai Decent owning up to 22% of Nickel Mines.

Nickel Mines predicts production and EBITDA will more than triple in the next twelve months.

The company described Indonesia, where the company’s flagship projects are located, as the “epicentre of new nickel supply”.

Nickel Mines share price snapshot

The Nickel Mines share price has leapt by 13% in the past 12 months. It has fallen 16% year to date. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned about 4% over the past year.

Nickel Mines has a market capitalisation of about $3 billion based on the current share price.

The post Nickel Mines share price lifts following record quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Bruce Jackson.

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