Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why the ELMO (ASX:ELO) share price is charging higher today

    stock market gaining

    The ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO) share price has started the week in a positive fashion.

    In early afternoon trade, the human resources technology company’s shares are up 2.5% to $5.11.

    Why is the ELMO share price is pushing higher?

    Investors have been bidding the ELMO share price higher today following the release of a positive product announcement this morning.

    According to the release, the company has launched a new module, COVIDsecure.

    Developed in-house, COVIDsecure allows employers to automate record keeping of COVID testing and the vaccination status of their workforce. The company believes the module will act as the technology that supports businesses to reopen safely post-lockdown.

    The module also provides employers with the ability to capture employees’ vaccination and test status for the entire or targeted areas of their business such as location, department, or even role.

    Furthermore, employers can configure periodic expiry alerts so they can be notified when an employee is due to update their vaccine or test status. ELMO believes this alert functionality will be particularly useful for workers required by government regulation to submit for testing at regular intervals.

    Management commentary

    ELMO’s CEO and Co-Founder, Danny Lessem, spoke very positively about the new module.

    He commented: “Many businesses have announced they will be mandating vaccinations among their workforce, ELMO’s COVIDsecure module makes it easier to keep records of the vaccination and testing status of that workforce, with employee consent.”

    “ELMO’s COVIDsecure module gives employers a tool to help keep their employees and the community safe. The new module increases the breadth of our solution, further differentiates ELMO’s value proposition and provides new revenue opportunities,” he added.

    The ELMO share price is down 22% in 2021. Shareholders will no doubt be hoping this news is the catalyst to getting the ELMO share price heading in the right direction again.

    The post Why the ELMO (ASX:ELO) share price is charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider ELMO, 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 ELMO 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. owns shares of and has recommended Elmo Software. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Elmo Software. 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 slumps amid reports of sale delays

    Man looking puzzled and thinking about which shares to buy

    The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is slipping amid reports the bank has delayed the potential sale of its wealth management business.

    BT Panorama, a wealth management platform, is said to be the next business segment on Westpac’s chopping block. It’s reported to be in focus after the bank sold its life insurance business last month. However, its sale has reportedly been delayed following a technical glitch.

    Right now, the Westpac share price is $25.78, 0.92% lower than its previous close.

    That sets it up as the worst-performing of the four big banks today. The share price of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia is only just ahead of that of Westpac, having slipped 0.82%.

    Meantime, those of the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) have fallen just 0.09% and 0.05% respectively.  

    Let’s take a closer look at today’s news of Westpac.

    Is this why the Westpac share price is slipping?

    The Westpac share price is bringing up the rear of its big bank peers amid reports it’s delayed the sale of its wealth management platform.

    According to last month’s reporting by the Australian Financial Review, BT Panorama recently experienced technical difficulties. The publication noted Westpac had said the glitch wouldn’t affect the timeline of its sale.

    However, The Australian today reported the sale will be delayed until 2022 due to the troubles.

    Neither Westpac nor BT Panorama has commented on the reported difficulties or the sale and its reported delay.

    Westpac didn’t respond to The Motley Fool Australia’s request for comment in time for publication.

    However, market watchers interested in the Westpac share price might want to keep an eye out for official news of the sale.

    According to The Australian, Westpac will be looking to sell BT Panorama separately from the platform’s superannuation business. The platform is said to be worth around $1 billion.

    The newspaper reported Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and IOOF Holdings Limited (ASX: IFL) might be among the potential buyers.

    The post Westpac (ASX:WBC) share price slumps amid reports of sale delays appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Westpac Banking Corp, 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 Banking Corp 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 owns shares of and has recommended Macquarie Group Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • The Alumina (ASX:AWC) share price rocketed 9% to an 18-month high today

    The Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC) share price shot up early on Monday, jumping 9.27% higher to $2.18 within the first few minutes of trade.

    Those big gains have since retreated, but the Alumina share price is still trading higher, currently up 6.02% at $2.12.

    Let’s take a look.

    What’s driving the Alumina share price?

    With no news released today, price increases and a supply shortage could be the forces behind a 25% rally in the Alumina share price in the last 7 trading sessions.

    The company is engaged in a broad range of aluminium-related activities including bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting.

    Aluminium prices have hit their highest levels in more than a decade amidst potential shortages in China, according to a Reuters report.

    The report said benchmark three-month aluminium climbed 2.7% to $2,722 a tonne, while the “most-traded” October aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed 1.2% up at $3,311 a tonne, near its highest since August 2008.

    To add some perspective, Alumina’s 1H21 results last month highlighted average realised aluminium prices of US$2,303/t.

    According to reports, aluminium shortages have been fulled by production cutbacks in China. The government is increasing oversight on highly polluting industries in an attempt to meet its climate and emission goals.

    Last Monday, Bloomberg said that producers in China’s southern Guangxi province would “cut output of energy-intensive materials in response to Beijing’s campaign to save power and restrain emissions”.

    The Guangxi government has asked for production cuts in sectors including aluminum, alumina, steel, ferroalloys and cement. Some aluminum and alumina smelters will be required to cap output in September at half their capacity, while some new smelting projects will be delayed.

    What’s next for Alumina?

    The Alumina share price is up 10.3% year-to-date thanks to its recent rally. The company is bullish on the outlook for the aluminium market.

    In its half-year results, the company said:

    Global aluminium demand is now back to pre-virus levels, largely due to economies recovering post-COVID, helped by Government stimulus packages.

    This is expected to grow with further economic recovery and greater demand for aluminium in a decarbonising world, largely due to its lightweight properties and recyclability.

    From an operational perspective, the company’s “low-cost assets” were able to produce record bauxite and alumina outputs in the first half.

    The post The Alumina (ASX:AWC) share price rocketed 9% to an 18-month high today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Alumina, 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 Alumina 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 Kerry Sun 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 the MoneyMe (ASX:MME) share price is leaping 6% today

    rising asx share price represented by smiling woman holding piggy bank

    The MoneyMe Ltd (ASX: MME) share price is charging higher, up 6% in late morning trade to $2.28 per share.

    Below, we take a look at the digital consumer credit company’s trading update that appears to be driving ASX investor interest.

    What trading update did MoneyMe announce?

    MoneyMe’s share price is leaping today after the company reported record originations of $112 million for July and August, the first 2 months of the new financial year (Q1 FY22).

    The technology-oriented credit company achieved this in a period that’s seen much of Australia in lockdown.

    It said originations increased 307% compared to the prior corresponding period (pcp) of July and August 2020. And they were up 7% on the $105 million of originations in April and May of this year.

    The MoneyMe share price could also be getting a boost today with its report of an increase in the credit quality in its loan book. The average Equifax score in its loan portfolio stands at 675, up from 650 as at 30 June.

    Additionally, the company said it’s reached $25 million in Autopay originations to date, with Autopay ramping up to $18 million in July and August from $6 million in Q4FY21 when it was launched.

    The company’s partnership with EasyCars has given it access to hundreds of dealerships with direct to dealer auto-finance integration.

    Commenting on the trading update, MoneyMe’s CEO Clayton Howes said:

    We are incredibly pleased to see the strong originations growth and increasing credit quality in the business, especially in the current environment. It is a testament to our product diversification strategy and huge growth opportunity that exists.

    The rapid growth in Autopay is exciting, and the new partnership with EasyCars will further accelerate our penetration into the auto-finance market by making Autopay more accessible to dealers.

    MoneyMe share price snapshot

    The MoneyMe share price is up an impressive 54% year-to-date. That compares to a gain of 12% for the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) so far in 2021.

    Over the past month, MoneyMe’s share price is up 3%, while the All Ords has slipped into the red.

    The post Why the MoneyMe (ASX:MME) share price is leaping 6% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider MoneyMe, 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 MoneyMe 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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  • Soul Patts (ASX:SOL) share price slips on FY21 earnings update

    A businessman slips and spills his coffee.

    The Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) share price is moving lower in early trade on Monday. This follows Soul Patts releasing a trading update pertaining to its FY21 full-year performance.

    At the time of writing, the Soul Patts share price is fetching $34.79, down 3.33%.

    What’s moving the Soul Patts share price?

    In a trading update, Soul Patts made shareholders aware of material impacts on its expected net profit after tax (NPAT) in FY21. While the term ‘impacts’ may sound menacing, the numbers are positive for the investment company.

    Shareholders could be in for a treat as Soul Patts’ final report for FY21 fast approaches. According to the release, the company now anticipates group consolidated NPAT in the range of $316 million to $336 million. For comparison, NPAT for the full year prior came in at $170 million. Hence, the provided trading update indicates a potential 86% to 98% increase in earnings.

    As explained in the update, there are 3 main reasons for the bottom line strength. Firstly, New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) disclosed in its 31 July quarterly report that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) are forecast to be $372 million. Soul Patts holds nearly a 40% stake in the coal-producing company.

    Secondly, brickmaking company Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) has highlighted its expectation for record earnings in FY21. Soul Patts own approximately 46% of the company.

    Lastly, base metal mining company Round Oak is expected to report net profits of $64 to $68 million for FY21. This would represent a radical shift from a $43 million loss in the previous financial year.

    On the other hand, the company noted that these gains will be partially offset by a reduced contribution from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG). As a result of the telecom giant’s merger with Vodafone, Soul Pattinson doesn’t receive a proportion of earnings based on its equity ownership. For that reason, it only received $18 million in dividends in FY21 from TPG. In contrast, Soul Patts was distributed with $72 million in accounted profit.

    What about statutory profits?

    The Soul Patts share price might be waning on Monday because of how the statutory profits could look in FY21. Specifically, the $1.05 billion accounting gain from the derecognition of TPG as equity won’t be repeated this year. Due to the one-off gain in the previous year, investors should expect a materially lower statutory profit.

    Finally, the company will release its preliminary final report for the FY2021 financial year on 23 September. Likely, shareholders will be watching the Soul Patts share price with great anticipation leading up to this event.

    The post Soul Patts (ASX:SOL) share price slips on FY21 earnings update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Washington H Soul Pattinson right now?

    Before you consider Washington H Soul Pattinson, 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 Washington H Soul Pattinson 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 owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended TPG Telecom 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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  • Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price jumps 2% despite new BNPL competitor

    Investor looking at smartphone and considering Evolution's share purchase plan

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is decidedly not having a great start to the trading week this Monday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down a hefty 0.7% today so far to 7,470 points. But one ASX 200 share that is defying this ASX 200 gravity today is Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P). Zip Co shares are up today, presently by a healthy 2.3% to $6.94 a share. That’s after initially rising all the way to $7.05 earlier this morning too.

    So why are Zip shares rallying so enthusiastically in the face of a sinking market?

    Well, it’s not immediately clear. There are no major news or announcements out of Zip today so far. But it is worth noting that one of Zip’s fellow buy now, pay later (BNPL) peers are also defying the ASX 200’s malaise. Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) shares are up 0.97% to $131.98 so far.

    A new BNPL competitor?

    We did get some news out of the BNPL space today though, which may be affecting the Zip share price. Today, the ASX banking and insurance giant Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) put out a press release on some new BNPL plans the company is initiating.

    According to the release, Suncorp has announced a new BNPL product called ‘PayLater’. Suncorp says this new “interest-free” BNPL product “can be used to make payments at more than 70 million merchant locations worldwide, wherever Visa is accepted”.

    Suncorp expanded on this by stating the following:

    Available to Suncorp Bank customers from November via the Suncorp App, PayLater is designed to give customers more choice around how they pay, and at no additional cost to retailer…

    Unlike some other banks offering digital-only BNPL, PayLater gives customers the option of a digital or physical PayLater Visa Debit card that can be used both in-store and online.

    As the bank indicated, PayLater will not hit merchants with extra fees. This stands in stark contrast to other BNPL providers like Zip and Afterpay. Both of these BNPL providers charge a chunky surcharge on retailers running sales through their BNPL networks.

    PayLater will also have a $1,000 limit, depending on eligibility, and will be available for purchases above $50. It will also have a capped $10 late fee per purchase for customers who fail to pay back their instalments on time.

    About the Zip Co share price

    Even though Suncorp’s announcement can easily be taken as a new threat to Zip (and Afterpay), today’s share price rises seem to fly in the face of this thesis. Either the market isn’t bothered by this announcement. Or it simply isn’t enough to stop some enthusiastic buying pressure for Zip shares today.

    Year to date in 2021 so far, Zip shares are still up a healthy 24.7%. However, they are also only up a far more sluggish 1.01% over the past 12 months. At Zip’s current share price, the company has a market capitalisation of $3.81 billion.

    The post Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price jumps 2% despite new BNPL competitor appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Zip, 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 Zip 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 Sebastian Bowen 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 AFTERPAY T FPO and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended AFTERPAY T 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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  • Why the Ioneer (ASX:INR) share price is leaping to an all-time high today

    Happy child jumping for joy.

    The Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR) share price is accelerating to a new record high on Monday. This comes despite no news coming out of the emerging lithium-boron company since late August.

    At one point, Ioneer shares touched an all-time high of 65.5 cents during the first hour of morning trade. They’re currently slightly lower at 64.5 cents apiece, up 7.5%.

    What’s driving the Ioneer share price higher?

    Investors are buoyant on Ioneer shares following the company’s last release to the ASX on 24 August.

    Ioneer revealed that it awarded a major engineering design and equipment supply contract to Veolia Water Technologies (Veolia).

    Veolia Water, a subsidiary of the Veolia group, is a leading specialist in water treatment. The company designs and delivers drinking water and wastewater treatment plants as well as water treatment equipment.

    The contract is for the final detailed engineering design for the development of Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project. This also includes an equipment supply contract using evaporation, crystallisation and dewatering equipment.

    Ioneer noted the award represents the single largest supplier package for the Rhyolite Ridge Project. It is also a major step forward in construction and development in the production of high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

    Both Ioneer and Veolia have been working together since 2018 to demonstrate the feasibility of the process design. Veolia has conducted laboratory testing and simulated operations of key units consisting of clarification, ion exchange purification, evaporation and crystallisation.

    Works are currently underway with planned commissioning of the plant expected sometime in the second half of FY24.

    Are Ioneer shares a buy?

    According to Canadian-based Canaccord Genuity, its analysts raised the price target for Ioneer shares by 8.3% to 65 cents. Based on the current share price, this implies an upside of almost 5% after factoring in today’s gains.

    On valuation grounds, Ioneer presides a market capitalisation of roughly $1.2 billion, with approximately 1.9 billion shares on its registry.

    The post Why the Ioneer (ASX:INR) share price is leaping to an all-time high today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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  • Neometals (ASX:NMT) share price jumps 5% as boss spruiks battery recycling ‘tsunami’

    green battery

    The Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) share price is gaining today following some glowing media coverage.

    Right now, the Neometals share price is 76 cents, 5.56% up on its previous close after reaching a high of 77 cents earlier today.

    The gains come after the nickel and lithium miner’s CEO, Chris Reed, spruiked the business’ battery recycling arm.

    Reed has reportedly said the company’s battery recycling business looks like it will fill a gap in Europe’s increasing battery production. If that’s the case, the company could be riding a wave to hold up the future of Europe’s electric vehicle market.

    Let’s take a look at the latest news of Neometals.

    Is Neometals creating Europe’s newest industry?

    The Neometals share price is surging following reports the company’s work is filling holes in the lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries.

    Reed told The Australian that the increasing number of carmakers manufacturing their own lithium-ion batteries will lead to a glut of batteries in need of recycling in the coming years.

    He said recycling batteries can be troublesome for battery manufactures. However, it’s particularly important in Europe as the metals that go into batteries aren’t mined on the continent.

    Further, Reed said spent batteries pose a considerable risk to ground water and the broader environment if they’re not recycled.

    He also pointed out that 8 tonnes of carbon emissions are produced alongside each tonne of new lithium-ion batteries. In effect, it means electric vehicles aren’t as carbon neutral as they’re often spruiked to be.

    Investors interested in the Neometals share price might want to keep an eye out for demand for battery recycling, as the Neometals boss believes the company will soon be a cornerstone of Europe’s electric vehicle market.

    The company recently commissioned the first stage of its lithium-ion battery recycling demonstration plant.

    Neometals is in a unique position as it mines battery metals in Australia as well as recycles disused lithium-ion batteries. However, Reed told the newspaper that by recycling batteries, his company is the lowest-cost nickel producer in the world.

    The Australian quoted Reed as saying:

    But you are at the dawn of a tsunami. We know because we can see the battery plants that have been built, we know the adoption rates of the cars. The only thing we are more confident about than the volumes being produced is that they bloody wear out quicker than you think.

    Neometals share price snapshot

    The Neometals share price is currently 174% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 319% since this time last year.

    The post Neometals (ASX:NMT) share price jumps 5% as boss spruiks battery recycling ‘tsunami’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Neometals, 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 Neometals 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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  • Which ASX shares are leading the way on the ASX 300?

    falling asx share price represented by child making thumbs down gesture with grimacing face

    The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is off to a poor start on Monday, erasing all of last week’s gains.

    During morning trade, the ASX 300 is down 0.66% to 7,478 points. Currently, the index is around 2.2% off its all-time high of 7,625 points reached on 13 August.

    Let’s take a look at which ASX companies are the biggest movers today.

    Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)

    The Alumina share price soared 9.27% to $2.18 in early morning trade, despite no market-sensitive news out of the company today.

    The alumina producer released its half-year results to the market late last month, highlighting record bauxite and alumina production.

    However, after the company’s shares reached a 52-week high of $2.18 today, investors have been quick to take profit. At the time of writing, Alumina shares are trading at $2.075, up 4%.

    Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)

    The Liontown Resources share price is storming higher with a 5.47% gain to $1.06.

    The emerging lithium producer will be added to the ASX 300 index after surging in value due to investor interest. This will occur on 20 September.

    Liontown Resources is focusing on developing its world-class Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.

    Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR)

    Another strong mover for the start of the week is the Tyro share price, up 4.13% to $3.90.

    The payments company provided its weekly trading update to the ASX, revealing an increase in revenue for August. As such, earnings for last month have grown 20% to $2.048 billion compared to the prior corresponding period.

    Management also noted that the strong tailwinds have continued into FY22, with September revenue up 13% on September 2020’s result.

    Tyro Payments will be included in the ASX 200 index.

    And which ASX 300 companies are heading the other way?

    Hansen Technologies Limited (ASX: HSN)

    Freefalling today is the Hansen share price, down 8.75% to $5.63.

    The billing technology company advised that BGH Capital has withdrawn its offer to acquire 100% of the shares in Hansen.

    Previously, BGH Capital tabled an offer to buy each Hansen share at $6.50 apiece.

    The decision to withdraw from the proposal followed the conclusion of BGH’s extensive due diligence. However, no particular reason was given to the market.

    Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG)

    Also being weighed down by investors today is the Fortescue share price, down 9.26% to $18.92. The iron ore mining giant is trading ex-dividend today.

    This means that investors who held Fortescue shares beforehand could sell their holding now and still be eligible for the upcoming dividend.

    The board declared a fully-franked final dividend of $2.11 per share, which will land in shareholder accounts on 30 September.

    The post Which ASX shares are leading the way on the ASX 300? 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 Aaron Teboneras 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 Hansen Technologies and Tyro Payments. 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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  • ASX 200 midday update: Fortescue & Pro Medicus sink, gold miners rise

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    At lunch on Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a decline. The benchmark index is down 0.7% to 7,472.4 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the ASX 200 today:

    Fortescue shares crash lower

    The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is trading sharply lower on Monday. However, this has nothing to do with iron ore prices and everything to do with its upcoming dividend. This morning the mining giant’s shares traded ex-dividend for its fully franked $2.11 per share final dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this dividend on 30 September.

    Gold miners storm higher

    One area of the market performing positively today has been the gold sector. Thanks to a solid rise in the gold price on Friday night, the likes of Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) shares are pushing notably higher. The precious metal was given a boost by weak US economic data. This has eased tapering fears and boosted safe haven assets.

    Pro Medicus shares tumble

    The Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) share price is tumbling lower today after being downgraded by a leading broker. According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, it has downgraded the health imaging company’s shares to a sell rating with a $54.00 price target. Goldman made the move on valuation grounds, believing it is hard to justify the premium the Pro Medicus share price is trading on.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers

    The best performer on the ASX 200 on Monday has been the Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price with a 4.5% gain. This is despite there being no news out of the artificial intelligence data services company. The worst performer has been the Fortescue share price with a 9.5% decline after going ex-dividend.

    The post ASX 200 midday update: Fortescue & Pro Medicus sink, gold miners rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    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.

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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. owns shares of and has recommended Appen Ltd and Pro Medicus Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Appen Ltd and Pro Medicus 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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