Tag: Motley Fool

  • ASX travel shares rebound despite rising oil prices

    A woman is laughing with joy as she pulls her luggage off the conveyor belt at an airport.A woman is laughing with joy as she pulls her luggage off the conveyor belt at an airport.A woman is laughing with joy as she pulls her luggage off the conveyor belt at an airport.

    ASX travel shares pushed ahead today despite fears of escalating fuel costs.

    Four ASX travel shares that climbed were Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB), and Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD).

    Let’s take a look at what might have given these Australian travel shares a boost today.

    Why are ASX travel shares climbing today?

    ASX travel shares had a day in the sun today despite fears fuel prices will continue to spiral amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    The Qantas share price closed 3.32% higher today and Flight Centre climbed 3.08%. Further, Webjet gained 3.5% and Corporate Travel finished up 3.42%.

    One bright spot that may have helped ASX travel shares is news India will restart international flights on 27 March.

    Qantas is tapping into Australia’s huge Indian community and trade and investment market, Bloomberg reported. The airline is flying directly from Sydney and Melbourne to Delhi.

    ASX travel shares have broadly followed the footsteps of United States airline shares. In the US on Tuesday, American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) surged 5%, United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ: UAL) jumped 3% and Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL) finished nearly 4% ahead.

    Meanwhile, Flight Centre CEO Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner predicts the corporate travel recovery from COVID-19 may take a few years. As quoted in the Australian Financial Review, he said:

    Within a couple of years, business travel globally will get somewhere close to 80 per cent or 90 per cent. It won’t get back to pre-COVID levels straight away in the next few years.

    Business travel never got back to the same level as pre-GFC, so I think this will have the same impact.

    Share price recap

    The Qantas share price has slid around 9% in the past year, Flight Centre has remained steady, dropping less than 1%, while Webjet has also dropped 9%. In contrast, Corporate Travel Management has managed a 3% climb in the past 12 months.

    For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has returned about 4% in the past year.

    The post ASX travel shares rebound despite rising oil prices appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Qantas, 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 Qantas 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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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited, Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, and Webjet Ltd. 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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  • 4 ASX healthcare shares at 52-week lows

    A female scientist sits at her desk looking stressed out while working in an AnteoTech lab.

    A female scientist sits at her desk looking stressed out while working in an AnteoTech lab.A female scientist sits at her desk looking stressed out while working in an AnteoTech lab.

    Plenty of ASX healthcare shares fell to 52-week lows today. The industry has not been immune to the ASX share market selloff.

    There is ongoing volatility with investors keeping an on the Russian conflict with Ukraine, the sanctions and the ongoing inflation environment.

    It has been a rough time for plenty of sectors, including healthcare:

    Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC)

    The Ramsay Health Care share price fell to $59.85 earlier today. It’s currently down by 0.5% to $60.30.

    The business is a private hospital operator. The Ramsay Health Care share price has seen a drop of 16% since the start of the year.

    Ramsay recently reported in the first half of FY22 that revenue grew by 1.2% but statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) was down by 29.7% to $158.9 million.

    AVITA Medical Inc (ASX: AVH)

    The AVITA share price fell to $2.37 earlier today. At the time of writing it is down just over 2%.

    The medical technology business provides the RECELL system. The AVITA share price has seen a decline by around 30% since the start of 2022.

    The ASX healthcare share recently reported a 37% increase in revenue to $14 million, whilst the net loss decreased 9% to $14.4 million.

    Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX: SPL)

    The Starpharma share price fell to $0.80 earlier today. Currently, it is down 1.2%.

    The pharmaceutical business is engaged in the research, development, and commercialisation of dendrimer products. The Starpharma share price has fallen by around 37% since the beginning of the calendar year.

    Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT)

    The Volpara share price has hit a low of $0.66, representing a decline of almost 3%.

    Volpara is an ASX healthcare share, which provides practice software as well as tools for breast screening and analysing those images. The Volpara share price has fallen by more than 36% since the start of the year.

    The company has been reporting quarterly growth for a number of quarters.

    It recently revealed that in the three months to 31 December 2021, cash receipts had grown by 50% year on year to NZ$7 million.

    In that quarterly update, it said that annual recurring revenue (ARR) had now reached around US$21.5 million, or NZ$30.4 million in New Zealand dollar terms. This was up almost US$1.1 million over three months.

    The ASX healthcare share’s market share has now reached 35% of US women being screened, up from 34% in the prior quarter.

    Volpara also said that the average revenue (ARPU) over the installed base of users was US$1.47 at the end of its third quarter, with average ARPU for deals in the third quarter of US$1.65, ranging from US$1.05 to US$6.68.

    The post 4 ASX healthcare shares at 52-week lows appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Ramsay, 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 Ramsay 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 Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Avita Medical Limited, Starpharma Holdings Limited, and VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended VOLPARA FPO NZ. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical Limited, Ramsay Health Care Limited, and Starpharma Holdings 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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  • 3 popular ETFs for ASX investors to check out

    Man looking at an ETF diagram.

    Man looking at an ETF diagram.Man looking at an ETF diagram.

    Exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to grow in popularity with investors and it isn’t hard to see why.

    ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to sectors, themes, markets, and entire countries through a single investment. This means an investor can home in on certain areas of the investment world that they’re particularly bullish on.

    But which ETFs could be good options for investors? Listed below are three popular ETFs to research further:

    BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF (ASX: CLDD)

    The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF. This ETF gives investors exposure to leading global companies involved in the delivery of computing services, servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics and other services over the internet or cloud. Through this ETF, you’ll be buying a slice of companies such as Dropbox, Netflix, Shopify, and Zoom.

    Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI)

    Another ETF for ASX investors to research further is the Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF. This popular ETF allows investors to buy a slice of large global stocks that have been identified as climate leaders. This could make it a top option if you’re wanting to invest ethically. Betashares notes that the fund excludes companies that have direct or significant exposure to fossil fuels or those engaged in activities deemed inconsistent with responsible investment considerations. Among the shares included in the fund are giants such as Apple, Nvidia, Toyota, and Visa.

    VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

    A final ETF for ASX investors to look at is the VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. As its name implies, this ETF gives investors exposure to the booming video games market which VanEck notes comprises 2.7 billion active gamers globally. This is more than Netflix subscriptions and active Apple devices. Among the companies you’ll be buying a slice of are Activision Blizzard, AMD, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Nvidia, Roblox, and Take-Two. VanEck points out that these companies are well-placed to benefit from the increasing popularity of video games and eSports.

    The post 3 popular ETFs for ASX investors to check out 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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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Vectors ETF Trust – VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF. 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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  • Own NAB (ASX:NAB) shares? Here’s why the bank is this brokers top pick

    A happy male investor turns around on his chair to look at a friend while a laptop runs on his desk showing share price movementsA happy male investor turns around on his chair to look at a friend while a laptop runs on his desk showing share price movementsA happy male investor turns around on his chair to look at a friend while a laptop runs on his desk showing share price movements

    Shares in National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) are heading north today to sit marginally higher on the day at $28.95 apiece.

    Whilst many of the ASX banking majors are suffering losses in 2022, NAB has held the fort and is sitting less than 1% in the green. It has traded relatively sideways with wide volatility since October, as shown below.

    Analysts at JP Morgan are bullish on the bank and reckon it will outstrip its peers on the chart for the remainder of FY22 at least.

    Here are the details.

    TradingView Chart

    NAB to shine in 2022?

    JP Morgan analysts were pleased with NAB’s latest results and note that the bank achieved the most impressive result in 1Q22 compared to the other big 4.

    “Pleasingly NAB delivered the strongest top-line growth in 1Q22 (5% growth on 2H21 quarterly avg) on above-system lending growth and underlying [net interest margin] NIM down only 2 basis points”, the broker said.

    “While we don’t expect this pace to persist, the result reflects not only less exposure to mortgages, but sound execution across housing, SME & Insto”.

    In fact, the quarter was one of the strongest in NAB’s history and the broker says this was assisted by strong credit growth both in Australia and New Zealand.

    Analysts at the firm also estimated that markets and treasury (M&T) revenue increased to $430 million, a 48% gain versus the entire 2H FY21 quarterly average.

    With respect to credit growth, the broker reckons growth trends are set to continue here, particularly when examining on a peer-to-peer basis.

    “We see little evidence to suggest it cannot sustain this momentum, especially in the non-housing segment, where has a peer-leading SME franchise”, it remarked with respect to credit growth.

    Aside from that, JP Morgan was happy with NAB’s customer metrics and reckons it is well-positioned to capitalise on any hike to base interest rates in the coming months.

    The broker sets a price target of $33.50 per share, meaning investors will realise a 16% upside at the current market price should this thesis come true.

    NAB share price snapshot

    In the last 12 months, the NAB share price has held gains. It is up more than 8% after climbing less than 1% into the green since trading recommenced on 4 January.

    During the past month of trading, shares have gained 4%, indicating the bullish momentum behind the bank.

    The post Own NAB (ASX:NAB) shares? Here’s why the bank is this brokers top pick appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in National Australia Bank right now?

    Before you consider National Australia Bank, 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 National Australia Bank 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 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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  • Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    Man presses green buy button and red sell button on a graph.

    Man presses green buy button and red sell button on a graph.Man presses green buy button and red sell button on a graph.

    Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.

    Three ASX shares brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN)

    According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $36.50 price target on this health and safety products company’s shares. While Citi acknowledges that Ansell’s earnings will fall heavily in FY 2022 due to easing COVID tailwinds, it feels that its shares have overcorrected. So with the company’s shares now trading at under 15x FY 2023 earnings, the broker believes this has created a buying opportunity for investors. The Ansell share price is trading at $25.15 this afternoon.

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $36.00 price target on this appliance manufacturer’s shares. Morgan Stanley notes that Breville’s shares have pulled back meaningfully since the release of its half year results. This is despite the company delivering stellar growth during the half. Morgan Stanley sees this as a buying opportunity, particularly given Breville’s global expansion. The broker expects this to support its growth as industry tailwinds fade. The Breville share price is fetching $26.21 today.

    Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL)

    Analysts at Ord Minnett have upgraded this healthcare company’s shares to a buy rating with a $37.30 price target. According to the note, the broker made the move on valuation grounds following recent weakness in its share price. And while the broker accepts that COVID testing volumes are likely to reduce and impact Sonic’s earnings, Ord Minnett expects a recovery in its core diagnostic operations to offset some of this. In addition, it highlights its strong balance sheet which gives the company M&A optionality. The Sonic share price is trading at $32.95 on Wednesday afternoon.

    The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell Ltd. and Sonic Healthcare 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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  • Here’s why the BHP (ASX:BHP) boss is still optimistic about China

    Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.Two businesspeople walk together in an office, smiling as they enjoy a good business relationship.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price has spent most of the day in the green amid CEO Mike Henry expressing confidence in the company’s business relationship with China.

    At the time of writing, the BHP share price is up 0.09% at $48.58.

    Let’s take a look at what the boss of this ASX mining giant had to say about China.

    Positive on China

    BHP’s boss has expressed confidence that tensions are not impacting the company’s business relationship with China.

    Speaking at the Australian Financial Review Business Summit in Sydney, Henry said:

    Clear geopolitical tensions in the near term, are not yet manifesting in terms of the business-to-business relationship.

    Over the sorts of timeframes that BHP thinks about… we’re pretty confident that there will be a constructive relationship there not just at a business level but also a political level.

    One has to believe that in the fullness of time, things recalibrate back into a more constructive footing.

    BHP’s share price has climbed just 1.46% over the past 12 months.

    In the same speech, Henry also touched on the impact of rising commodity prices:

    We have seen hundreds of percentage increases of prices on a range of commodities.

    That is going to have a spillover economic effect on inflation, potentially on global growth.

    As my Foolish colleague Tristan Harrison reported on Monday, BHP is looking for growth in future-facing commodities, including copper, nickel and potash. Henry foresees the world will need more copper and nickel as it progresses towards decarbonisation.

    BHP delivered a 57% boost in profit in 1H FY22 results and a 27% boost in revenue.

    BHP share price recap

    The BHP share price is up just 0.5% this week, though it has surged 17% since the start of the year.

    For perspective, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has descended 5.2% year to date.

    BHP has a market capitalisation of $245.8 billion based on the current share price.

    The post Here’s why the BHP (ASX:BHP) boss is still optimistic about China appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider BHP, 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 BHP 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Beach (ASX:BPT) share price up: Oil prices predicted to stay higher for longer

    a man in a business suit looks at a map of the world above a line up of oil barrels with a red arrow heading upwards above them, indicting rising oil prices.

    a man in a business suit looks at a map of the world above a line up of oil barrels with a red arrow heading upwards above them, indicting rising oil prices.a man in a business suit looks at a map of the world above a line up of oil barrels with a red arrow heading upwards above them, indicting rising oil prices.

    The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price is up 0.6% at the time of writing, reaching $1.71.

    Over the last month alone, Beach shares have gone up by 13%. In the last six months it has surged 69%.

    The oil price has jumped in recent weeks amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    But there could be more rises as the US and UK are banning Russian oil. The BBC reported that about 8% of US oil and refined product imports come from Russia, while Russia makes up about 6% of the UK’s oil imports.

    The US President Joe Biden indicated this decision is to hurt “the main artery of Russia’s economy”. Russia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of oil, along with the US and Saudi Arabia.

    However, President Biden acknowledged that the move could lead to higher oil prices for consumers.

    This may be having an impact on the Beach Energy share price considering it’s an oil resource business.

    Oil prices to remain higher for longer?

    The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) boss Kevin Gallagher has suggested that the banning of Russian oil could lead to very high oil prices for a while. Mr Gallagher said at the Australian Financial Review Business Summit:

    Supply’s struggling, it’s struggling right now for a number of reasons. Projects are now taking twice as long to get up and get approved.

    We could be stuck with very high prices, unhealthily high prices for some time.

    He suggested this could remain the case because the supply gap can’t be filled, unless there is a change in government policies globally.

    Beach Energy share price snapshot

    Since the start of the year, Beach shares have risen around 30%.

    The post Beach (ASX:BPT) share price up: Oil prices predicted to stay higher for longer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy right now?

    Before you consider Beach Energy, 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 Beach Energy 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 Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why Aurelia Metals, Brambles, GQG, and Nickel Mines shares are falling

    5 arrows going down with a red background.

    5 arrows going down with a red background.5 arrows going down with a red background.

    It has been a much-needed positive day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is back on form and up 0.9% to 7,045.1 points.

    Four ASX shares that have failed to follow its lead today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

    Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI)

    The Aurelia Metals share price is down over 3% to 45.5 cents. Investors have been selling this gold miner’s shares after it revealed that it has suspended production at its Dargues Gold Mine in southern New South Wales. This was done as a precaution following the significant rain event that is currently impacting the east coast of Australia.

    Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)

    The Brambles share price is down 2% to $9.69. This decline is almost entirely attributable to the logistics solutions company’s shares trading ex-dividend for its interim dividend this morning. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving Brambles’ 15.1 cents per share partially franked dividend next month on 14 April.

    GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

    The GQG share price has continued its slide and is down a further 3.5% to $1.15. This means the fund manager’s shares have now lost 43% of their value since the completion of its IPO at $2.00 per share in October. GQG’s shares have come under pressure this week following the release of its latest funds under management update.

    Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX: NIC)

    The Nickel Mines share price is down 11% to $1.30. Investors have been selling down this nickel producer’s shares today after one of its largest customers and shareholders, Tsingshan, getting caught up in a massive short squeeze. However, this afternoon Nickel Mines responded to the decline by stating that it has spoken with Tsingshan. The steel producer has told the company that it does not plan to sell shares. It also advised that Tsingshan continues to support its operations and will be buying its nickel as planned.

    The post Why Aurelia Metals, Brambles, GQG, and Nickel Mines shares are falling 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

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  • Will soaring commodity prices hold back the Bitcoin price in 2022?

    Man sitting at a desk facing his computer screen and holding a coin representing discussion by the RBA Governor about cryptocurrency and digital tokens

    Man sitting at a desk facing his computer screen and holding a coin representing discussion by the RBA Governor about cryptocurrency and digital tokensMan sitting at a desk facing his computer screen and holding a coin representing discussion by the RBA Governor about cryptocurrency and digital tokens

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price is up 5% since this time yesterday.

    One Bitcoin is currently trading for US$40,616 (AU$52,207).

    In a sign of the ongoing volatility of the world’s top crypto. Over the past 24 hours, it’s traded as high as US$$40,240 and as low as US$38,107.

    Commenting on the Bitcoin price gains, OANDA Americas senior markets analyst, Edward Moya said (quoted by CoinDesk), “Bitcoin is higher on the day as risk appetite showed signs of life after U.S. stocks had the worst rout in a few years.”

    Are soaring commodity prices holding back the Bitcoin price?

    Many crypto bulls had been expecting the Bitcoin price to rebound past US$50,000 by now.

    Some have been pointing to cryptos’ usefulness to ordinary Russians locked out of Visa and Mastercard, even as the value of the ruble tumbles.

    However, it may be that the massive rise in commodity prices we’re seeing is diverting some would-be crypto investors’ money into these fast rising hard assets.

    According to Moya:

    Bitcoin’s fundamentals are still sound, but many active traders are putting the crypto trade on hold and focusing on a handful of commodity supercycle trades. Bitcoin is forming a trading range and over the next few weeks it could trade between the US$35,000 and $45,000 trading range.

    What’s going on with commodities?

    It’s not every day we hear the Bitcoin price linked to commodity prices.

    But then the incredibly rally we’re seeing across a wide range of commodities, including crude oil, gas, coal, and nickel, is unprecedented.

    Indeed, Brent crude oil is trading at 14-year highs. While coal recently broke into new all-time highs.

    Commenting on the surging commodity prices, AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said (quoted by The Australian):

    The prospect of fresh sanctions on Russia, and moves to ban the purchase of commodities supplied by that country, is driving up prices of oil, gas, wheat, nickel, copper… Russia is a top-5 producer of palladium, diamonds, gas, oil, platinum, potash, aluminium, gold, nickel and steel.

    That’s some list.

    And don’t forget that Ukraine is also a major commodity producer. One whose exports will be hugely impacted by Russia’s on-going invasion.

    How will this all play out for the Bitcoin price in 2022?

    Time will tell.

    The post Will soaring commodity prices hold back the Bitcoin price in 2022? 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

    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Bitcoin. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Bitcoin. 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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  • Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) share price rebounds 15%, what’s been happening?

    Three Archer Materials scientists wearing white coats and blue gloves dance together in their lab after making a discoveryThree Archer Materials scientists wearing white coats and blue gloves dance together in their lab after making a discoveryThree Archer Materials scientists wearing white coats and blue gloves dance together in their lab after making a discovery

    The Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) share price has been regaining some of its recent losses today.

    In afternoon trade, shares in the regenerative medicines company are fetching $1.20, up 16.5%. Despite the gain, shareholders are still a distant 52% below Mesoblast’s 52-week high of $2.52.

    Could the shorts be covering?

    While the market is throwing support behind the Mesoblast share price today, the shifting sentiment is not a result of a positive announcement.

    In fact, the ASX-listed drug developer hasn’t released any news since 25 February. Aside from that release, the only other news to arise is the company’s removal from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) — which was revealed on Friday.

    However, thanks to my Foolish colleague, James, we know that Mesoblast made the top 10 most shorted ASX shares last week. From the ASIC data, the recent weakness in the Mesoblast share price coincided with a 9.8% short interest last week.

    This might suggest shorters might be taking some of their profits off the table today after a prolonged downward run in Mesoblast shares.

    Between 11 December 2020 and today, the unprofitable biotech has suffered a 74% fall in its share price. Given this, the far majority of short-sellers were likely in profit leading up to today.

    How does the Mesoblast share price compare to its peers?

    Looking at the company on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the performance of the Mesoblast share price is roughly in line, if not better in some cases, than its ASX-listed pharmaceutical peers.

    Since the year kicked off, Mesoblast shares have fallen 15.2%. For comparison, let’s look at the performance of other similar companies.

    Finally, based on the current Mesoblast share price, the company holds a market capitalisation of $772 million.

    The post Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) share price rebounds 15%, what’s been happening? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Mesoblast, 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 Mesoblast 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 Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended CSL Ltd. 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.

    from The Motley Fool Australia https://ift.tt/qlHGiXa