Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why has the Bluescope (ASX:BSL) share price had such a tough time in November?

    male and female workers at a steel factory

    Shares in steel producer Bluescope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL) haven’t produced much excitement in November. The company has been trading sideways in sawtooth fashion for over a month now, failing to breach the $22 a share mark on several occasions.

    At the time of writing, The Bluescope share price is trading at $20.45 after spiking less than 1% from the open today.

    It’s been a difficult period during the back end of 2021 for the company, amid softer steel prices and weakening demand for steel out of China. As such Bluescope is now down 1% for the month and has slipped over 2% into the red this past week.

    What’s up with the Bluescope share price lately?

    Bluescope shares have struggled of late while investors respond poorly to volatility in steel spot and futures markets. The price of steel has fallen off the cliff-face since early October, sliding 29% in that time to trade at 4,217 Chinese Yuan per tonne.

    This drop comes even as steel prices reached 10-year highs during the last 2 months. Production curbs imposed by China to tackle emissions and pollution put a dent in the demand and supply dynamic for the metal in 2021, alongside steelmakers’ profits this year.

    Now as Steel futures trade at their lowest levels since February 2020, China is again set to resume production – but domestic demand for the metal is still weak, according to Trading Economics.

    Coming off such a buoyant steel market where the metal now trades almost 30% lower in 2 months, bodes in poorly for the Bluescope share price given that it produces the commodity.

    As such, it is considered a price taker that share prices fluctuate with volatility in the wider commodity markets, especially steel and iron ore.

    Without the frothy steel prices to drive cash flow down into Bluescope’s bottom line, the company’s earnings are under threat and investors are responding accordingly by staying on the sidelines for now, Morgan Stanley suggests. The broker is neutral on Bluescope and values the company at $23.50 per share.

    Investors are also tightening their grip on ASX-listed names touted as heavy polluters and are calling for more climate representatives on the boards of Australian resource companies.

    For instance, a report from the Investor Group of Climate Change (IGCC) recently called out 15 ASX 200 companies – including Bluescope – and submitted that each lacks the skills and experience to tackle climate risk.

    This, the IGCC says, poses a material risk to the company and investors alike, and it calls on companies like Bluescope to be the beacon of change by recognising and tackling the issues.

    It’s not all doom and gloom for Bluescope investors, however. Almost 60% of the analysts covering the company have it as a buy, and the average price target is $25.18, implying an upside potential of 24%.

    Bluescope share price snapshot

    In the past 12 months, the Bluescope share price has climbed 19% after rallying a further 16% this year to date.

    These results are well ahead of the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s gain of around 10% in the last year.

    The post Why has the Bluescope (ASX:BSL) share price had such a tough time in November? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bluescope Steel right now?

    Before you consider Bluescope Steel, 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 Bluescope Steel wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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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  • Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) share price rockets amid US$12bn market opportunity

    The Rhythm Biosciences Ltd (ASX: RHY) share price is on fire on Tuesday morning.

    At the time of writing, the cancer diagnostics technology company’s shares are up 15% to $1.90.

    This means the Rhythm Biosciences share price is now up an impressive 68% in 2021.

    Why is the Rhythm Biosciences share price rocketing higher today?

    Investors have been bidding the Rhythm Biosciences share price higher today following the release of an update relating to its ColoSTAT product.

    ColoSTAT is a simple, low-cost, blood test for global mass market detection of colorectal cancer. The company notes that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common in women globally, accounting for an estimated 1.9 million new cases and 935,000 deaths annually.

    According to today’s release, the company has achieved a major regulatory milestone for the commercialisation of ColoSTAT. The product has been granted CE Mark and fully conforms with the European Directives for IVD Medical Devices.

    Management highlights that this critical regulatory achievement is a result of robust and stringent analytical testing and adherence to design and development procedures.

    Rhythm Biosciences’ CEO, Glenn Gilbert, said: “The achievement of this regulatory milestone continues to validate our commercial pathway into significant global markets, with Europe alone representing a massive addressable population of over 231 million people. This significant achievement represents an initial step change in the Company and is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the entire Rhythm team. Rhythm is currently assessing its commercialisation options to market ColoSTAT into Europe.”

    What’s next?

    The company notes that being granted CE Mark was a critical component in its commercial plan and priority market entry strategy. It allows Rhythm to commercialise, market and sell ColoSTAT in a significant global market across Europe and other countries which recognise CE.

    Management estimates that this customer market currently represents an addressable screening population of over 231 million people, with a combined value of US$12 billion.

    The post Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) share price rockets amid US$12bn market opportunity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Rhythm, 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 Rhythm wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    More reading

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

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  • Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price lifts amid $1.3 billion capital raise

    Team celebrating corporate success screaming with joy.

    The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is marching higher in morning trade, up 2.38% to $198.62 per share.

    Below we look at the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) financial giant’s update on its share purchase plan.

    What did the group announce about its capital raising?

    The Macquarie share price is gaining after the company announced its share purchase plan (SPP) closed on Friday, raising $1.3 billion in new capital.

    The group had initially targeted some $1.5 billion in capital when it first reported the SPP on 29 October. That came on the same day it released its half-year results, revealing that net profits for the half-year had more than doubled from the prior corresponding half year.

    Commenting on the capital raising at the time — which saw the Macquarie share price fall — CEO Shemara Wikramanayake said:

    Having deployed $5.5 billion of capital over 2H21 and 1H22, we continue to see a strong pipeline of opportunities… Macquarie remains committed to investing in the growth of our businesses in a disciplined manner.

    In this morning’s update, Macquarie reported it had received some 49,000 SPP applications from eligible shareholders. It will accept all of those in full and will issue roughly 6.8 million new shares at $191.28 per share. That’s 1.4% below this morning’s opening price of $194.01 per share.

    With the placement now closed, Wikramanayake said:

    We are very pleased with the positive response from our shareholders. In addition to the institutional placement, proceeds raised under the SPP will provide additional flexibility to invest in new opportunities where the expected risk-adjusted returns are attractive, while maintaining an appropriate capital surplus.

    Macquarie expects to issue the 6.8 million new shares generated from the SPP on Friday, 3 December. Those will commence trading on the ASX the following Monday.

    Macquarie share price snapshot

    The Macquarie share price has been marching steadily higher in 2021, up 41%. That compares to a year-to-date gain of 9% posted by the ASX 200.

    Over the past month Macquarie shares are down 0.5%.

    The post Macquarie (ASX:MQG) share price lifts amid $1.3 billion capital raise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Macquarie, 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 Macquarie wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    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 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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  • Own Santos (ASX:STO) shares? Here’s why the company could be in for some good news this week

    An oil miner with his thumbs up.

    Owners of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares might want to keep an eye out for big news from Oil Search Ltd (ASX: OSH) in the coming weeks.

    Long-awaited governmental approval to develop Oil Search’s 38.5%-owned P’nyang gas field could reportedly be just days away.

    The green light could see the planned all-scrip merger of Santos and Oil Search skewed further in Santos’ favour.

    At the time of writing, the Santos share price is $6.39, the same as its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is in the green, boasting a 0.68% gain.

    Let’s take a closer look at the news that could reportedly increase the value of Oil Search.

    Could this boost the Santos share price?

    Santos is set to walk away with a bigger share of the merged entity than it’s brought to the table. An announcement, reportedly expected to be released shortly, could further tip the balance.

    The Papua New Guinean government has been in talks with the P’nyang gas field’s operator, Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM), for months. According to reporting by The Australian, the pair are getting ready to announce the project has been given the green light.

    The approval could see development works begin at the gas fields.

    Though, Papua New Guinea Minister for Petroleum, the Hon Kerenga Kua, previously said phasing construction over an 8-year period would benefit the country and its economy.

    It could also boost the value of Oil Search’s stake in the project, increasing the company’s value.

    That’s worth noting as an independent expert’s report found Oil Search’s value wasn’t reflected in the merger terms. They said:

    Oil Search shareholders are contributing around 43-44% of the aggregate estimated underlying value of the merged group compared to the 38.5% of the merged group that they will receive.

    They said, even after acknowledging cost savings from the merger, it will lower the value attributed to Oil Search shareholders. However, the expert concluded the merger is in the best interests of Oil Search shareholders.

    Also noteworthy, Santos also owns a small share of the P’nyang gas fields. The entity resulting in the companies’ fusion will own a 42.5% stake.

    The companies have already indicated they plan to sell the stake down to around 30% following the merger. Doing so will ensure the merged entity has a smaller share than Exxon Mobil.

    Oil Search shareholders are expected to vote on its proposed merger with Santos in early December. To get the scheme across the line, 75% must vote in favour.

    The post Own Santos (ASX:STO) shares? Here’s why the company could be in for some good news this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Santos, 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 Santos wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Collins Foods (ASX:CKF) share price higher on finger-lickin’ good result

    Young woman in yellow striped top with laptop raises arm in victory

    The Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF) share price has been a strong performer on Tuesday morning following the release of its half year results.

    At the time of writing, the quick service restaurant operator’s shares are up 3% to $12.88.

    Collins Foods share price higher on strong profit growth

    • Revenue up 9.5% to $534.2 million
    • Statutory EBITDA from continuing operation up 10% to $92.5 million
    • Underlying EBITDA from continuing operations up 13.1% to $94.9 million
    • Underlying net profit after tax up 31.6% to $28.9 million
    • Fully franked interim dividend up 14.3% to 12 cents per share

    What happened during the first half?

    For the six months ended 17 October, Collins Foods delivered a 9.5% increase in revenue to a record of $534.2 million. This was driven by a return to growth from its European operations and solid performance from the rest of the business.

    KFC Australia delivered a 4.4% increase in revenue to $433.7 million, KFC Europe’s revenue grew 31.7% to $84.7 million, and Taco Bell Australia’s revenue jumped 33% to $14.8 million. The former was achieved despite cycling very strong same store sales growth in the prior corresponding period.

    Things were even better on the bottom line, with Collins Foods reporting a 31.6% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $28.9 million.

    And while its operating cash flow was weaker compared to a year ago, that didn’t stop the company from increasing its interim dividend by 14.3% to 12 cents per share.

    Another positive was its store expansion. The company notes that it increased its restaurant footprint by nine to 322 during the half. This means it is on track to open a record number of new restaurants this financial year.

    Management also highlighted that it has a significant organic growth pipeline and attractive opportunities to reach scale in KFC Netherlands and Taco Bell Australia, while adding to its core KFC Australia footprint.

    Management commentary

    Collins Foods’ Managing Director & CEO, Drew O’Malley, commented: “Collins Foods has successfully leveraged brand strength, scale and operational efficiency to deliver another strong first half result.”

    “Record revenues were achieved in KFC Australia, despite cycling exceptional same store sales (SSS) growth in HY21. The KFC brand is stronger than ever and continues to take market share in a growing but competitive chicken category. Growth in digital and delivery channels, ongoing investment in innovation, and a laser focus on customer experience and operational excellence has enhanced convenience and is driving brand loyalty,” he added.

    Outlook

    While no guidance was provided for the full year due to COVID uncertainty, management remains positive on its outlook over the medium and long term.

    Mr O’Malley said: “We see attractive opportunities for continued growth across the group, leveraging digital and delivery innovations to further grow our core KFC Australia business and scale our KFC Europe and Taco Bell brands. Collins Foods’ strong cash generation and healthy balance sheet supports our growth strategy, and we remain on track to open up to 24 new restaurants across the group in FY22.”

    “Whilst there is significant opportunity in the medium and long term, uncertainties remain in the short term with rising COVID-19 cases heading into the European winter,” he added.

    The post Collins Foods (ASX:CKF) share price higher on finger-lickin’ good result appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Collins Foods right now?

    Before you consider Collins Foods, 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 Collins Foods wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Collins Foods 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 recommended Collins Foods 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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  • Raiz (ASX:RZI) share price climbs 8% as Seven West Media makes strategic investment

    high, climbing, record high

    The Raiz Invest Ltd (ASX: RZI) share price is moving almost 8% higher at the time of writing following the company’s latest announcement.

    Before market open, the micro-investing platform informed shareholders of a strategic investment from Seven West Media Ltd (ASX: SWM). The Australian media giant will leverage its country-wide audience to assist in accelerating Raiz’s customer growth.

    This strategic move on behalf of Seven West is less than a month after it announced the acquisition of Prime Media Group Limited (ASX: PRT). Making the Raiz investment the company’s second strategic play in the past month.

    What is spotlighting the Raiz share price today?

    It was only a few weeks ago when Raiz proudly announced it had reached a major milestone in the company. On 10 November 2021, the mobile-based investing platform paraded its achievement of hitting $1 billion in funds under management (FUM).

    Today, news of the $960 million diversified media company, Seven West Media, getting involved with Raiz will likely grab the market’s attention.

    According to the release, ASX-listed Seven West will take a strategic investment of a 6.6% stake in Raiz. This will be facilitated through a $10 million share placement. Additionally, the new Raiz shares were priced at the 10-day volume-weighted average price of $1.617.

    Aligning both parties, the media giant will make payment for the investment via two components. Firstly, Raiz will receive $2 million in cash. Secondly, Seven will conduct advertising across its various avenues to the equivalent value of $8 million. This will give the Raiz platform reach to over 18 million Australians through the media giant’s publications.

    Management commentary

    Commenting on the announcement, Raiz joint group CEO Brendan Malone said:

    With Seven we will be able to re-engage with many of these customers as well as expand our reach to a fresh audience and explain why Raiz is an excellent product for them for saving and investing in and outside of superannuation, even if they have broking accounts or high interest saving accounts with other organisations. We are not an either-or product.

    Meanwhile, Seven West Media managing director and CEO James Warburton said:

    Raiz is a disruptive digital player that is targeting a huge market opportunity. Combining Raiz’s consumer offering, which has widespread appeal, with SWM’s scale and audience reach provides a significant opportunity to grow the business and is a strong fit with the strategy of our Seven West Ventures group.

    The Raiz share price has strengthened by 62% since the beginning of 2021.

    The post Raiz (ASX:RZI) share price climbs 8% as Seven West Media makes strategic investment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Raiz Invest right now?

    Before you consider Raiz Invest, 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 Raiz Invest wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    More reading

    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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Nuix (ASX:NXL) share price sinks 7% following trading update

    a woman sits with her hands covering her eyes while lifting her spectacles sitting at a computer on a desk in an office setting.

    The Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) share price is falling on Tuesday morning.

    At the time of writing, the investigative analytics and intelligence software company’s shares are down 7% to $2.38.

    Why is the Nuix share price falling?

    Investors have been selling down the Nuix share price this morning following the release of a trading update at its annual general meeting.

    According to the release, Nuix has re-signed a major advisory contract on a multi-year consumption licence, achieved other significant multi-year deals with existing customers, and completed a number of deals that were originally expected in FY 2021.

    This has led to the company delivering a 10% increase in statutory revenue in both reported and constant currency during the first four months of FY 2022.

    However, it has warned that its revenue profile is fluctuating and this revenue growth is not necessarily indicative of the remainder of the year. As a result, it is still too early to provide full year guidance.

    It’s not all good news

    Unfortunately, the 10% revenue growth is where the good news stops. Nuix revealed that its annual contract value (ACV) is flat year on year and its cost base has increased materially.

    The latter is being driven partly by product development costs, which include accelerating the Engine as a Service offering. In addition, the enhancement of its sales and distribution capability, employee retention and recruitment, and legal expenses are weighing on its profit margins.

    This has led to Nuix’s pro forma EBITDA falling 27% on the prior corresponding period during the first four months of FY 2022. As with its revenue, no real guidance has been given for its earnings for the full year. All management has said is that a large and ongoing increase in its cost base will impact EBITDA, with the benefits expected to flow in subsequent periods.

    The post Nuix (ASX:NXL) share price sinks 7% following trading update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Nuix, 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 Nuix wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for nearly 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 August 16th 2021

    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 recommended Nuix Pty 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.

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  • Here’s why Cardano’s token is jumping today

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

    Piggy bank rocketing.

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

    What happened

    Cardano‘s (CRYPTO: ADA) ADA token is gaining ground amid rebound momentum for the broader cryptocurrency market. ADA was up roughly 7.3% over the previous 24 hours as of 3 p.m. ET.  Bitcoin was up roughly 5.6%, while Ethereum‘s ether token had climbed 6.5%.

    The cryptocurrency market got hit hard last week as investors focused on the emergence of a new coronavirus variant dubbed omicron, but market sentiment appears to be shifting again. Many major crypto tokens are posting big gains on Monday, and Cardano’s ADA token is participating in the pricing rebound. 

    So what

    With the new coronavirus variant creating a fresh source of uncertainty last week, investors moved out of high-risk cryptocurrencies and stocks, and Cardano and many other leading altcoins suffered steep valuation pullbacks. Cardano’s sell-off last week was especially pronounced because eToro also announced that it would start limiting trading of ADA and TRON‘s TRX token for U.S.-based users of its trading platform, prompting significant sell-offs for each of the tokens. 

    Crypto investors seem to have digested the risks posed by the omicron variant, and ADA’s valuation is climbing thanks to the shift in sentiment. However, even with the recent recovery, the token is still down roughly 10% over the last seven days. 

    Now what

    Cardano provides a blockchain-based network for the development and execution of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. The company’s ADA token is used as the currency for transacting on the network, and it’s possible that increased adoption of Cardano and services built on its blockchain will work to drive the price of its cryptocurrency significantly above current levels. 

    The ADA token has surged this year as Cardano has gained favor as a network for DeFi network services, and its roughly $53 billion market cap makes it the sixth-largest cryptocurrency. The token’s gains have been incredible, but there have also been some big pricing swings along the way. ADA trades down roughly 46% from its lifetime high of $2.97 per token, but investors should keep in mind that regulatory risks and the potential for dramatic volatility in the crypto space mean it’s still a high-risk investment. 

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

    The post Here’s why Cardano’s token is jumping 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum. 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.

    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 iron ore price is in the spotlight today

    Iron ore price Vale dam collapse ASX shares iron ore, iron ore australia, iron ore price, commodity price,

    The iron ore price is getting extra support after Vale SA (NYSE: VALE) cut its production guidance for 2021 and 2022.

    The news could give the Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price, Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price an extra boost.

    As it stands, ASX shares are poised to rally as fears of the Omicron COVID-19 ease. The futures are pointing to a 0.6% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) this morning.

    Production downgrade triggers iron ore price uplift

    Our biggest miners have an extra reason to cheer. Their large Brazilian rival lowered its production target to 315 million to 320 million tonnes this year. That compares to its previous goal of 315 million tonnes to 335 million tonnes.

    Vale also downgraded its 2022 production estimates to between 320 million and 335 million tonnes. Consensus estimates pegged next year’s output at 346 million tonnes, reported Bloomberg.

    Vale is prioritising value over volume to protect margins. This is why it’s holding back shipments of lower-quality ore.

    The miner provided the update during its investor day at the New York Stock exchange overnight.

    Still cashed up

    This isn’t the only piece of good news it’s delivering to ASX iron ore miners. The Rio de Janeiro-based miner is flushed with cash even as the price of iron ore and other key commodities have tumbled.

    This could give some confidence to ASX investors that our iron ore producers do not need record iron ore prices to keep paying big dividends.

    Vale is the world’s second largest iron ore producer after Rio Tinto. It’s also worth remembering that Rio Tinto issued disappointing production numbers more than once this year.

    Iron ore price finding supply side support

    The upside to the downgrades is that the supply cuts will help support the tentative iron ore price recovery.

    The steel making ingredient has plunged deep into a bear market after hitting an all-time high above US$200 a tonne. It’s currently trading around half that.

    China’s orders to reign in steel production in that country triggered the sell-off. Power shortages exacerbated the drop in demand for iron ore by steel mills.

    However, the iron ore price has recently appeared to have bottomed around US$90 a tonne. The trillion-dollar infrastructure plan by the US and talk of Chinese economic stimulus to support the Asian giant are giving hope that commodity demand won’t be as weak as the bears are expecting.

    If this is true and the supply side stays soft through 2022, ASX iron ore miners could find renewed support early in the new year.

    The post Here’s why the iron ore price is in the spotlight 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 more than eight 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 August 16th 2021

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of BHP Billiton Limited, Fortescue Metals Group Limited, and Rio Tinto Ltd. 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 Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC) share price has tumbled 7% this month. Is it a buy?

    A doctor shrugs, confused about the situation.

    The Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) share price has been underperforming in 2021.

    Since the start of the year, the private hospital operator’s shares have risen just 5.5%. This follows a 7% decline so far in November.

    Is the Ramsay share price good value now?

    The subdued performance of the Ramsay share price this year has been driven by concerns over the difficult trading conditions the company is facing in Australia from lockdowns.

    The good news, though, is that the team at Goldman Sachs believe this underperformance is a buying opportunity for investors.

    According to a recent note, the broker has reiterated its buy rating and $74.00 price target on its shares.

    Based on the current Ramsay share price of $66.20, this implies potential upside of approximately 12% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Goldman is also forecasting a dividend yield of approximately 2% in FY 2022, bringing the total return on offer to ~14%.

    Why does Goldman like Ramsay?

    Goldman continues to highlight Ramsay as one of the more attractive recovery trades across its coverage.

    It commented: “RHC’s operating performance in 1Q22 was heavily impacted by various restrictions, lockdowns and other challenges associated with the pandemic. However: 1) these dynamics were widely understood (and experienced by most) prior to today; and 2) positive revenue growth (+1.3%) was ahead of our expectations given the severity of disruption during the period (widespread elective surgery bans/restrictions, isolation orders/lockdowns and infection-driven staffing shortages/procedure cancellations).”

    “Despite these challenges, growth was positive in each of UK (+21%), Europe (+5%) and Asia (+15%), as the extent of volume recovery more than offset the impact of Covid-driven disruption and, whilst operating performance remains some way below pre-Covid levels, an improving trajectory is clear, and we believe the set-up for 2022 looks favourable,” the broker added.

    All in all, Goldman Sachs appears to believe it could be worth sticking with the Ramsay share price and sees strong returns on the horizon.

    The post The Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC) share price has tumbled 7% this month. Is it a buy? 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 nearly 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 August 16th 2021

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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 Ramsay Health Care 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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