Tag: Motley Fool

  • Here’s why the Serko (ASX:SKO) share price is crashing 10% lower today

    a woman looks nervous and uncertain holding a hand to her chin while looking at a paper cut out of a plane that she's holding in her other hand.

    The Serko Ltd (ASX: SKO) share price is back from its trading halt and deep in the red.

    At the time of writing, the travel booking technology company’s shares are down 10% to $6.65.

    Why is the Serko share price tumbling lower?

    The weakness in the Serko share price today has been driven by the completion of the company’s NZ$75 million placement.

    According to the release, the placement was fully subscribed at NZ$7.05 per share, representing a 10.2% discount to the closing price of NZ$7.85 on 23 November.

    Management advised that the placement was well supported, attracting bids well in excess of the NZ$75 million total offer amount from institutional and other select investors in both local and offshore markets.

    Serko will now push ahead with a retail offer aiming to raise a further NZ$10 million from retail shareholders.

    Why is Serko raising funds?

    Serko launched its capital raising to raise funds for three particular activities. These are investing for growth with Booking.com for Business, developing a global marketplace strategy, and for potential acquisitions that accelerate its global expansion opportunities.

    In respect to the former, the company notes that following the successful migration of Booking.com business customers onto the new Zeno powered Booking.com for Business platform, Serko will undertake targeted investment to optimise customer engagement and extend the offering across global markets to maximise the potential of the opportunity.

    As for the global marketplace strategy, Serko intends to transform from an online booking tool into a distributed marketplace. This will create an ecosystem of travel content suppliers and business travel market segments connected through the Zeno platform.

    Serko’s CEO, Darrin Grafton, was pleased with the success of the capital raising.

    He commented: “The capital raising enables Serko to continue to invest to capture the growth opportunities across key markets, and realise our vision of transforming from an online booking tool into a global marketplace. We are pleased with the level of support received for the raise from new and existing investors.”

    The post Here’s why the Serko (ASX:SKO) share price is crashing 10% lower today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Serko, 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 Serko 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. owns shares of and has recommended Serko Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Serko 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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  • The Biotron (ASX:BIT) share price just exploded 86% on COVID drug update

    healthcare asx share price rise represented by happy doctor

    The Biotron Limited (ASX: BIT) share price is rocketing upwards today after the company announced its lead clinical asset successfully treated COVID-19 symptoms in mice as part of a study.

    In the study, the drug, BIT225, was found to reduce viral load in the lungs when administered orally. BIT225 has also undergone a successful cell-based study, exhibiting its effectiveness against the virus.

    At the time of writing, the Biotron share price is 8.7 cents, 70.6% higher than its previous close. However, earlier this morning it reached 9.5 cents – representing an 86% gain.

    Let’s take a look at today’s news from the biotechnology company.

    Biotron share price leaps on positive COVID studies

    The Biotron share price is surging higher on news its drug – which is at mid-stage development for the treatment of HIV-1 and Hepatitis C virus – has demonstrated the ability to battle COVID-19 in animal and cell-based studies.

    As part of the studies, mice infected with COVID-19 were given BIT225 orally.

    The mice treated with BIT225 were found to have a significantly reduced virus load in the lungs and blood compared to the study’s controls.

    The drug was also shown to reduce the ‘cytokine storm’ associated with COVID-19. Generally, pro-inflammatory cytokines are linked to severe illness and death in people infected with COVID-19.

    Finally, treating COVID-19-infected mice with BIT225 was found to stop weight loss generally associated with COVID-19 infections in mice. In fact, the animals treated with BIT225 gained weight in line with growth expectations through the course of the study.

    Additionally, BIT225 has been tested in cell cultures to determine its effectiveness against COVID-19’s Delta strain.

    The data from the in-vitro study found BIT225 reduced the Delta virus in cell cultures by more than 99.99%.

    Biotron is now talking with its United States-based advisors and consultants to expedite BIT225’s progression into human trials for the treatment of COVID-19.

    BIT225 is an oral drug, suitable for once-a-day dosing, and has a well characterised safety profile. Formal pre-clinical studies have assessed safety over 24 weeks of dosing.

    Right now, the Biotron share price is around 8% higher than it was at the start of 2021.

    The post The Biotron (ASX:BIT) share price just exploded 86% on COVID drug update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Biotron, 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 Biotron 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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  • Investing for the future: why this fundie is optimistic on copper shares

    Open copper pipes

    Copper shares have been a winning investment for shareholders so far this year. The combination of an increased push towards clean energy technology and a constrained supply has resulted in upwards momentum in the copper price.

    Since the beginning of the year, ASX-listed companies such as OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL), Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), and 29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M) have all rode the copper wave. To the delight of shareholders, this has meant returns in excess of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Recently, one Sydney-based fund manager shared their optimism for copper shares with investors. In its October report, Perennial Partners highlighted their forecast of a positive outlook for copper in the long term. A key reason for this estimation is the growing push behind the green energy transition.

    Do copper shares still have room to grow?

    Perennial Partners have been managing money for over 20 years, endeavouring to deliver market-beating returns through its numerous funds. In the October report for the Perennial Value Australian Shares Trust fund, the team shared their take on the reddish-brown metal.

    During the month, the fund saw gains of more than 10% in its holdings of OZ Minerals and 29metals. Additionally, South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) gained 1.1% in October after it took a 45% stake in the Sierra Gorda mine in Chile. Despite the strong performance, the fund has maintained its overweight exposure to the materials sector relative to the index.

    The fund manager informed its investors that it is expecting a long-term positive outlook for copper shares. This is driven by an underlying increase in the demand for the metal due to the electrification theme. At the same time, Perennial expects supply will remain tight.

    Supporting this belief, research conducted by Jefferies analyst Christopher LaFemina, indicated marginal copper production growth in the September quarter. Of the mining giants that have reported production numbers, supply had increased only 0.9% year-on-year.

    Sharing in Perennial Partners’ assessment, LaFemina said:

    We are bullish copper over the medium term due to growing global demand and underappreciated supply constraints.

    In the short term

    Copper shares have largely traded sideways since October on demand fears stemming from China. The downfall of property development in the region has weighed on the metal.

    China is the world’s largest consumer of copper, with the real estate sector accounting for a significant portion of this use. Uncertainty around how China’s Evergrande fallout will play out has likely compounded these worries.

    The post Investing for the future: why this fundie is optimistic on copper shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for 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 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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  • The Imugene (ASX:IMU) share price has rocketed 80% since August. Here’s why

    Group of scientists cheering

    The Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU) share price is flat at 52.5 cents in early trade today after finishing 4.5% in the red yesterday.

    However, shares in the biopharma company have climbed 17% in the past month. They are also up 81% since the start of August, adding to their impressive run in the last year.

    A string of fundamental updates from the company has investors placing bids to secure a spot in Imugene. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been driving returns lately.

    What’s up with Imugene lately?

    The Imugene share price started rising again in mid-October, bouncing off a low of 39.5 cents. Back then the company released an investor presentation on its technology and treatment platforms.

    Even with the company’s operations and clinical trial milestones on full display, investors had a dull reaction to the update.

    Although, investors have been rewarding ASX health care shares these past few months, indicating strengths in the broad sector. For instance, around the same time in October, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care index (ASX: XHJ) also sprung off its low and accelerated north.

    Imugene then announced its strategic partnership with clinical-stage biotechnology company Eureka Therapeutics on November 1. The pair are set to explore the therapeutic potential of combining technologies for the treatment of solid tumours. The Imugene share price jumped on the news.

    Following this, Imugene advised of a new clinical supply agreement with pharmaceutical giants Merck KGaA (ETR: MRK) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE).

    Merck has been on the quest to develop novel treatment solutions in oncology over the past few years, so too has Pfizer. As such, the trio will investigate Imugene’s HER-Vaxx therapy in combination with Avelumab, co-developed by Pfizer and Merck.

    Whereas HER-Vaxx is specifically designed to treat tumours, Avelumab works by blocking a certain molecule that suppresses the immune system.

    The Phase 2 trial will investigate how effective HER-Vaxx and Avelumab are as a combination therapy with chemotherapy versus placebo with a certain type of gastric/gastroesophageal cancer.

    Imugene share price snapshot

    After closing as high as 60.5 cents on 9 November, the Imugene share price has cooled off and marched back to its current levels.

    Imugene shares have soared more than 377% in the past 12 months and 425% this year to date.

    Despite this, they have levelled off in the past 2 weeks and are down around 3% in the past week. It hasn’t been all downhill in this time, however, with the share still closing on top on a number of trading days.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) has gained around 10% over the past 12 months and 12% this year to date.

    The post The Imugene (ASX:IMU) share price has rocketed 80% since August. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Imugene, 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 Imugene 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 author has no positions 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 the Life360 (ASX:360) share price is sinking 9% today

    a man sits at a computer in deep thought with hand on chin in a darkened room as though it is late and night and he is working on cybersecurity issues.

    The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price has returned from its trading halt and is tumbling lower.

    In early trade, the mobile app maker’s shares were down as much as 9% to $12.33.

    Why is the Life360 share price sinking on Thursday?

    The catalyst for the weakness in the Life360 share price on Thursday has been the completion of the institutional component of its fully underwritten A$280 million capital raising.

    According to the release, Life360 has raised A$88.7 million via its institutional entitlement offer and a further A$160.2 million through an institutional placement at $12.00 per new share. This represents an 11.1% discount to the Life360 share price prior to its trading halt.

    Management advised that the capital raising received strong demand from both existing and new investors.

    A fully underwritten retail entitlement offer, which will raise approximately A$31.1 million, will open on Tuesday 30 November.

    Why is Life360 raising funds?

    The proceeds from the capital raising will be used to acquire 100% of items tracking company Tile for a purchase price of up to US$170 million plus up to US$35 million in retention awards, representing a total consideration of up to US$205 million. This is the equivalent of approximately A$282.8 million.

    Management notes that the combination of Life360 and Tile creates an integrated market leader in location solutions for all life stages. This enables a seamless experience for families that integrates people, pets and things.

    It also highlights that Life360 will be the only vertically integrated, cross-platform solution of scale in the market and will be well-placed to take advantage of the growing location solutions category.

    Life360’s Founder and CEO, Chris Hulls, commented: “We are delighted with the overwhelming institutional take up of our entitlement offer for the acquisition of Tile. We are grateful for the support of our existing shareholders, and pleased to welcome new shareholders to the register. Together they have demonstrated pleasing confidence in our vision of integrated location solutions for all life stages, enabling a seamless experience for families that integrates people, pets and things. We are excited to welcome the Tile team into the Life360 circle and look forward to working together to deliver our market leading solutions so that families can live fully.”

    Are Life360’s shares in the buy zone?

    The team at Morgan Stanley was pleased with the acquisition. In response, the broker retained its overweight rating and lifted its price target to $16.50.

    Based on the current Life360 share price, this implies upside of ~33% over the next 12 months.

    The post Why the Life360 (ASX:360) share price is sinking 9% 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

    More reading

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  • Here’s why the Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price is rocketing 8% this morning

    An older couple dance in their living room as they enjoy their retirement funded by ASX dividends

    The Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) share price is rocketing in morning trade, up 8%.

    Below we look at the acquisition announcement from the ASX home furnishings company that looks to be driving investor interest.

    What acquisition was announced?

    The Adairs share price is soaring after the company reported it is acquiring Aussie furniture retailer Focus on Furniture for an Enterprise Value (EV) of $80 million.

    The debt free acquisition will see Adairs pay $74 million in cash alongside a $6 million share placement to Focus’ CEO, Rob Santalucia, who will remain at the helm of Focus.

    Focus has 23 stores in Australia with revenue of more than $150 million in the 2021 financial year (FY21). The current management team will remain with Focus and the store network will operate independently of Adairs.

    The Adairs share price may also be getting a boost from the company’s expectation that the acquisition will immediately lead to growth in EPS (earnings per share), forecasting that it will deliver “pro forma double-digit EPS accretion in FY23”, its first full year of ownership.

    Commenting on the acquisition, Adairs’ CEO Mark Ronan said:

    Focus builds out our product offering in the key area of home furniture and increases the exposure we have to that market by almost three times. The Adairs Group now comprises a highly profitable and aligned portfolio of brands with significant growth potential targeting the middle market in the home category in Australia and New Zealand.

    The acquisition will be earnings per share accretive from day one and we see strong growth opportunities that have the potential to drive sales of $250 million plus over the next 5 years.

    The company stated that its dividend payout policy would remain at the existing 65–80% of net profit after tax (NPAT) following the acquisition.

    Adairs share price snapshot

    The Adairs share price has gained 14% over the past 12 months, just edging out the 12% gains posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) in that same period.

    Over the past month Adairs shares are down 3%.

    The post Here’s why the Adairs (ASX:ADH) share price is rocketing 8% this morning appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Adairs, 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 Adairs 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. owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended ADAIRS FPO. 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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  • Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price slips amid ‘material shortcomings’ finding

    A disappointed female investor sits in front of her laptop and puts her hand to her forehead and closes her eyes in disappointment over share price falls

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is in the red this morning. This comes amid the release of an independent report highlighting “material shortcomings” in the Westpac New Zealand board’s risk governance.

    The report has led the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to criticise the Westpac New Zealand board.

    Westpac has accepted the report’s findings. The bank stated it is already addressing the recommendations.

    At the time of writing, the Westpac share price is $21.68, 0.55% lower than its previous close.

    For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is edging 0.01% higher, while the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is sporting a 0.06% gain.

    Let’s take a look at today’s news.

    Westpac share price slumps amid RBNZ criticism

    The Westpac share price is slipping amid the bank’s admission its New Zealand board “fell short” in risk governance practices.

    The report was commissioned by Westpac New Zealand under instruction from the RBNZ and created by consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

    Its creation stemmed from the RBNZ’s concerns over Westpac New Zealand’s material compliance issues. The RBNZ stated the report has confirmed those concerns were warranted.

    RBNZ deputy governor and general manager of financial stability Geoff Bascand commented on its findings:

    The report’s findings highlighted material risks to effective risk governance and noted that the role played by the board fell short of the standard expected of an organisation of the bank’s scope and scale. In some cases, issues that had been acknowledged by the board for several years had not received due attention or effective remediation.

    Bascand also said the report had identified “historic underinvestment in risk management capabilities” at Westpac New Zealand and noted investment appeared to be reactive, not strategic.

    What did Westpac say?

    In response, Westpac New Zealand chair Pip Greenwood, who took up the role last month, said following through on the report’s recommendations was a priority:

    We have always aimed for high standards of risk governance but acknowledge that in the instances identified we fell short…

    We’re united in our determination to keep lifting capability in this area and will continue to work constructively with the RBNZ on these matters and ensure they are up to speed with our progress and support our plans.

    Since Westpac New Zealand commissioned the review, it has welcomed a new chair and 6 new directors.

    A second independent report commissioned by Westpac New Zealand under order of the RBNZ will be published in the first half of 2022. It will assess the actions Westpac New Zealand has taken to improve its liquidity risks.

    The post Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price slips amid ‘material shortcomings’ finding appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Westpac, 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 Westpac 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 recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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  • Are BHP (ASX:BHP) shares a compelling opportunity in the decarbonisation era?

    A green-caped superhero reveals their identity with a big dollar sign on their chest.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are enjoying a good week.

    On the back of rising iron ore prices, the BHP share price is up 5% since Monday’s closing bell.

    The mining giant’s future is looking to become ever more closely tied to the price of iron ore, alongside a range of other metals seeing strong demand, as the world moves away from fossil fuels and towards electrification.

    That’s because BHP has been divesting its oil and gas segments so it can focus on areas it believes have a much longer horizon.

    And that, according to Paul Xiradis, head of equities at Ausbil Investment Management, looks to be a wise plan.

    What does a decarbonising world mean for BHP shares?

    Xiradis broadly has a bullish outlook for ASX shares. “We do not believe Australian equities are too expensive on average when you consider them in relative terms against where long-term interest rates are sitting, and their forward earnings growth outlook,” he says.

    According to Xiradis:

    The equity market has an implied duration structure which has seen its value adjust as interest rates have fallen to their lows. However, we look at the future earnings growth profile for equities when assessing if sectors are cheap or expensive.

    On a forward EPS [earnings per share] growth view, we believe resources (specifically battery materials, electrification metals and some bulk commodities) … are offering strong potential EPS growth for FY22 relative to value…

    Growth trends with a long way to run yet can throw up some compelling opportunities. “There are some compelling thematics and tactical developments that are delivering opportunity in the market based on forward potential earnings growth,” he said.

    Among the biggest trends is the world’s move away from carbon-based fuels in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases, which in turn is driving new demand for a range of metals.

    And Xiradis believes BHP shares are well-positioned to benefit:

    In resources, the shift towards decarbonisation, which will see significantly more commitment following COP26, is offering compelling opportunities in the electrification and battery materials metals (copper, nickel, lithium and cobalt) – we like BHP as a diversified exposure to these themes.

    How has BHP been tracking?

    BHP shares have struggled in 2021, alongside the other S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) iron ore miners. The BHP share price is down 10% year-to-date compared to a gain of 11% posted by the ASX 200 in that same period.

    Over the past month, BHP is up 2%.

    The post Are BHP (ASX:BHP) shares a compelling opportunity in the decarbonisation era? 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 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 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 Dogecoin plunged 9% today

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

    dog using a laptop

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

    What happened

    Popular meme token Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) saw rather intense selling pressure today. This dog-based digital currency was down 8.6% as of 10 a.m. ET, and hit a daily low of as much as 9.6% over the past 24 hours, in earlier trading. Since then, DOGE has begun to recover, down approximately 5% at 1 p.m. ET.

    So what

    This week has been a relatively volatile one in the crypto world. For dog-inspired meme tokens, this volatility generally outpaced the market. 

    To be fair, this has been the case for some time. The rallies we’ve seen in meme tokens have been astronomical in nature, with downside moves being more pronounced as well.

    Today, a couple of news items appear to be driving sentiment lower among investors in meme tokens. It was reported earlier today that Dogecoin, along with other major cryptocurrencies, plunged sharply in India on news of a bill moving forward that will ban most private tokens. 

    Additionally, investors seem to be considering recent comments made by Ripple CEO Bradley Garlinghouse on the inflationary dynamics of Dogecoin as a negative for the cryptocurrency market.

    Now what

    News that India will be moving forward with its bill was not entirely unexpected. However, seeing the bill progress toward being passed has some investors on their toes. Continued regulatory headwinds are a net negative for the overall crypto sector. However, for more speculative tokens, investors may see outsize volatility on further news flow on this front.

    With respect to the inflationary nature of Dogecoin, this is something that has been a key detractor bears have pointed to for some time. To see a high-profile name in the industry call out Dogecoin specifically is certainly something bulls don’t want to see.

    Right now, it appears the crypto market is attempting to find some sort of equilibrium. As price discovery takes place, investors can expect to see more volatility on the horizon. For meme tokens such as Dogecoin, this volatility may be more pronounced. Accordingly, investors should factor this into their decision-making process when considering this token. 

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

    The post Why Dogecoin plunged 9% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Dogecoin , 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 Dogecoin 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

    Chris MacDonald 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.

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

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  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (ASX:FPH) share price higher on half year results

    Doctor reading a file

    The Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd (ASX: FPH) share price is on the move on Thursday morning.

    At the time of writing, the medical device company’s shares are up 2% to $31.50.

    Why is the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare share price rising?

    Investors have been bidding the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare share price following the release of its half year results. Here’s a summary of how it performed during the six months ended 30 September:

    • Operating revenue was down 1% (up 2% in constant currency) to NZ$900 million
    • Hospital operating revenue down 2% to NZ$670.2 million
    • Homecare revenue up 0.3% to NZ$226.9 million
    • Net profit after tax down 2% (1% in constant currency) to NZ$222 million
    • Interim dividend increased 6% to 17 NZ cents per share

    What happened during the half?

    During the first half of FY 2022, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reported a 1% decline in operating revenue to NZ$900 million and a 2% reduction in net profit after tax to NZ$222 million.

    The main drag on the company’s performance was its Hospital product group, which includes humidification products used in respiratory, acute and surgical care. Segment revenue fell 2% after cycling the surge in demand for its respiratory products during the prior corresponding period at the height of pandemic.

    Within the segment, consumables revenue grew 8% in constant currency and reached 67% of segment revenue. The remaining 33% of revenue was from the sale of hardware.

    The Homecare product group, which includes products used in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and respiratory support in the home, delivered a modest 0.3% increase in revenue to NZ$227 million.

    Pleasingly, despite contending with elevated freight costs, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare was able to deliver a 135 basis point increase in its gross margin to 63.1%.

    Outlook

    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s Managing Director and CEO, Lewis Gradon, continued to warn that the second half will be tough. This could be what is weighing on the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare share price today.

    He said: “We have not changed our view on outlook for the remainder of the financial year since we last provided an update on the 18th of August. For the second half, we expect our Hospital hardware sales will continue to be impacted by COVID19-related hospital admissions. However, as we said in our August trading update, many countries have already boosted their hospital treatment capacity, so we do not expect Hospital hardware revenue to continue at an elevated level for the rest of the year.”

    Mr Gradon also warned that demand for consumables is uncertain due to a number of factors.

    He explained: “In our Hospital product group, consumables volume is likely to be impacted by a number of different factors. Those include the ongoing COVID-19 hospitalisations around the world, the severity of the flu season during the Northern Hemisphere winter, and the ability of hospitals to return to their preCOVID-19 rates for surgeries.”

    “Our second half last year corresponded to peak COVID-19 hospitalisations in North America and most European countries. In the absence of further comparable hospitalisation surges around the world, we would expect our consumables revenue for the second half of this financial year to be lower than the second half last year,” Mr Gradon added.

    Unfortunately, the Homecare segment is also facing challenges of its own.

    The CEO explained: “In our Homecare product group, growth in OSA masks is dependent on new patient diagnosis rates, which may continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and the supply of treatment hardware. We continue to expect new patient diagnoses to be at or above FY21 rates for the second half of the 2022 financial year.”

    The post Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (ASX:FPH) share price higher on half year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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