Tag: Motley Fool

  • Why Alcidion, Avita, BHP, & REA Group shares are storming higher

    asx growth shares

    In afternoon trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a very strong gain. At the time of writing the benchmark index is up 1.7% to 6,297.4 points.

    Four shares that have climbed more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are on the rise:

    Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX: ALC)

    The Alcidion share price has rocketed 36% higher to 17 cents. Investors have been fighting to buy the healthcare technology company’s shares after it announced a major new deal with another NHS Trust in the UK. Alcidion has signed a ~$9.5 million deal with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for its Miya Precision solution and the Better OPENeP electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system.

    Avita Therapeutics Inc (ASX: AVH)

    The Avita share price has stormed 4% higher to $6.19. This follows the announcement of a collaboration with the Houston Methodist Research Institute. According to the release, the project is seeking to establish proof-of-concept for the development of a novel approach to reverse ageing and rejuvenate skin. It also includes the potential for broader applicability, such as scar revision and wound healing.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

    The BHP share price is up 3.5% to $35.87 after announcing the completion of its acquisition of an additional 28% working interest in Shenzi development from Hess Corporation. BHP paid a total of US$505 million for the interest, lifting its share of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico development to a total of 72%. This adds approximately 11,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production (90% oil) as of the transaction closing date of 6 November 2020.

    REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

    The REA Group share price has been a strong performer and is up 8% to $138.38. Investors have been buying the property listings company’s shares since the release of its strong first quarter update last week. One broker that was impressed was Goldman Sachs. It has retained its buy rating and lifted the price target on the company’s shares to $143.00. The broker expects REA Group to benefit from a near term listings recovery and a step change in earnings as it introduces Premiere Plus.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    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 Alcidion Group Ltd and Avita Medical Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alcidion Group Ltd, Avita Medical Limited, and REA Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Tabcorp (ASX:TAH) share price slips after systems failure

    mesoblast share price falling represented by cartoon of little business men falling off broken graph arrow

    Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH) was up 16% last Friday on rumours of takeover interest by two large US private equity firms. This week, however, the Tabcorp share price has slipped slightly after a failure of wagering systems. 

    Why is the Tabcorp share price slipping?

    Tabcorp experienced an outage of its wagering operations and systems from around 11.30am AEDT on Saturday. This is one of the largest betting days in the annual racing calendar. It features the Mackinnon Stakes day in Melbourne and Golden Gift day in Sydney. 

    In an update, Tabcorp advised that its systems were “largely” restored. 

    The company blamed a “smoke and likely fire incident” at a third-party managed data centre in Sydney. Consequently, it has suffered extensive damage to its servers and associated infrastructure. The company placed its potential losses at “less than $10 million” of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

    Management response

    Tabcorp managing director and CEO, David Attenborough apologised for the outage, saying it was unacceptable:

    Tabcorp remains deeply sorry for this and acknowledges the significant disruption caused to our customers, the racing industry and venue partners.

    Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said:

    We’ll be seeking a clear and frank explanation from Tabcorp on how this has happened and what they will be doing to ensure that it doesn’t occur again.

    It’s incredibly disappointing and frustrating for this TAB outage to occur on a major Group 1 race day, in particular for the punters who were looking forward to a great Stakes Day program at Flemington.

    Other pressures

    There are other pressures on the company at the moment. The Australian reports that shareholders are pushing for a demerger of the wagering and lotteries businesses. In addition, the company agitation over performance from a group led by Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT). And finally Mr Attenborough, the CEO, is planning to leave the company in the first half of 2021.  

    The Australian has also revealed the Victorian state government has been sounding out rival bookmakers ahead of a formal tender process. Regardless, Tabcorp retains exclusive access to pubs and racetracks until 2024.

    The Tabcorp share price dropped sharply in opening trade today but has somewhat recovered and is trading at $4.02, down 1.95%, at the time of writing.

    Man who said buy Kogan shares at $3.63 says buy these 3 ASX stocks 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.*

    In this FREE STOCK REPORT, Scott just revealed what he believes are the 3 ASX stocks for the post COVID world that investors should buy right now while they still can. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks these could really go gangbusters as we move into ‘the new normal’.

    *Returns as of 6/8/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Daryl Mather has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Crown (ASX:CWN) share price up as Melbourne casino set to reopen

    Hand throwing four red dice

    The Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) share price is up by 3.06% so far today, after the gaming titan announced it is looking to reopen its Melbourne property.

    Crown Melbourne has received approved to reopen with a raft of restrictions in place, which mean that the property can operate in a limited capacity. 

    What does the new gaming operation look like?

    The casino operations are expected to commence on Thursday 12 November with a few key changes in place. The changes are mainly to comply with COVID-19 regulations and protect the health and safety of patrons. Social distancing is a key focus, as is density. The Victorian Government has determined these restrictions to be appropriate as the state looks to reopen further this week.

    The operational restrictions include:

    • Electronic gaming operations limited to ten designated VIP areas, with each area having a capacity of 10 patrons
    • No smoking is permitted
    • Physical distancing has been put in place, with every second gaming machine and electronic table game being deactivated
    • Patrons only allowed to game for a maximum of 90 mins per day
    • COVID “marshals” will be in place on the floor to monitor the safety
    • Hygiene protocols will be enhanced across the board.

    As mentioned, this reopening is planned for Thursday this week. 

    Crown’s CEO Ken Barton had this to say:

    We have been working for some time with the Victorian Government and health authorities to determine how we safety re-open Crown Melbourne and have developed extensive physical distancing and hygiene measures to allow re-opening in a safe manner. We are pleased to be able to commence the process of welcoming back our employees and customers to Crown Melbourne.

    What about retail operations?

    The Victorian Government allowed the reopening of retail outlets late last month. However, for Crown Melbourne this looked very different to normal, with only a select few retail outlets permitted to reopen on the property from 28 October. Food and beverage began to reopen from 2 November (last week). 

    Additionally, accommodation including Crown Towers is looking to reopen from today (9 November).

    Sydney not looking so bright

    Last week, Crown was in the news after being told it was “unfit” to run a new $2.2 billion Sydney casino. The issues lie with its culture. In fact, a recent inquiry went so far as to say that Crown had ‘fundamental problems’ with this internal culture. 

    Crown was called out and accused of doing business with people linked to crime. Additionally the regulators went on to say that the casino group had allowed money to be laundered at its Australian casinos. Crown dismissed these allegation initially as being unsubstantiated, however they could still cost the company its licence in Sydney.

    Crown Sydney remains in limbo while inquiry commissioner Patricia Bergin awaits some suggestions from Crown about how these issues can be addressed. Patricia Bergin is expected to produce a formal report early next year with some recommendations. An uncertain time for Crown Sydney exists until then.

    At the time of writing, the Crown share price is up more than 3% at $9.08 per share.

    Man who said buy Kogan shares at $3.63 says buy these 3 ASX stocks 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.*

    In this FREE STOCK REPORT, Scott just revealed what he believes are the 3 ASX stocks for the post COVID world that investors should buy right now while they still can. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks these could really go gangbusters as we move into ‘the new normal’.

    *Returns as of 6/8/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor glennleese has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Crown Resorts Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Kleos Space (ASX:KSS) in trading halt after breakthrough news

    Kleos Space SA (ASX: KSS) today asked the ASX to halt trading on its shares pending a major announcement. The request comes alongside other news released by the company this morning, in which it announced a significant breakthrough. Its first cluster of 4 satellites has entered orbit after a successful launch mission.

    Kleos Space’s shares will remain in trading halt until the start normal trading on Wednesday, or when the announcement is released to the market.

    What does Kleos Space do?

    Kleos Space was founded in 2017 by experienced space engineers to develop space enabled Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) concept, and disruptive space technologies. It launches and operates satellite infrastructure that is meant to generate commercial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and geo-services data. Kleos then sells this data internationally via subscription to government agencies, the intelligence community, or businesses.

    The company listed on the ASX in 2018, and has a current market cap of $112 million.

    What was the announcement today?

    Kleos Space announced a major breakthrough today with 4 of its satellites entering orbit following a successful launch mission from India on Saturday.

    The company advised that contact has been made with all 4 satellites. It claims that it is the first company to fly clusters of 4 satellites to geolocate radio frequency transmitters. This geolocation data will enable governments and other organisations to detect hidden maritime activity such as drug and people smuggling, piracy and illegal fishing, as well as identify those in need of search and rescue at sea.

    The company also said that the 37 degree-inclined orbit provided extensive coverage over crucial areas of interest such as Strait of Hormuz, South China Sea, East/West Africa, Southern Sea of Japan, northern Australian coast, and the Timor Sea. After this successful deployment, the company says that the commissioning phase has now started. 

    Kleos Space CEO Andy Bowyer says of this breakthrough:

    We are very excited to have our first cluster of four satellites in orbit. It is only three years since Kleos Space was founded.

    This launch marks an important milestone for Kleos and will – post the satellite commissioning phase – enable the collection, then delivery of our commercial and independent data to government agencies, the ISR community and organisations interested in locating threats, assets or those in need of search and rescue.

    I again extend my thanks to our entire team and to our security holders that have invested in Kleos which now enters its next stage of growth.

    Why did Kleos Space request a trading halt

    In its request to the ASX, Kleos Space said that it asked for a trading halt due to the company considering a significant issue of securities for purposes of a capital raising.

    Information about the issue, including the price at which a potential placement would be undertaken, may have a material effect on the price or value of the company’s securities. The capital raising and book building process is scheduled to take place over the course of two trading days.

    How has Kleos Space share price performed in 2020

    The Kleos Space share price began the year trading at 30 cents. The share price was halved to 15 cents in March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. It has since climbed exponentially to today’s level of 86 cents. 

    Man who said buy Kogan shares at $3.63 says buy these 3 ASX stocks 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.*

    In this FREE STOCK REPORT, Scott just revealed what he believes are the 3 ASX stocks for the post COVID world that investors should buy right now while they still can. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks these could really go gangbusters as we move into ‘the new normal’.

    *Returns as of 6/8/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor Eddy Sunarto has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why the CBA (ASX:CBA) share price and these ASX stocks could get a $100bn boost

    Giant magnet attracting banknotes to symbolise a capital raising

    Underperforming ASX banks and insurers may soon be getting a $100 million boost to their fortunes, according to a leading broker.

    That would mark a turnaround for these ASX stocks even though they’ve benefitted from the recent S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) rally.

    The share market held up better than what many feared through the US election. It now is about to get a further $100 billion boost from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

    QE tide to lift ASX stocks

    Our central bankers are committing a further $100 billion to quantitative easing (QE) – a program that will see the RBA purchase government bonds.

    The effect of this is to lower interest rates and inject extra cash into the financial system to stimulate the COVID‐19-stricken economy.

    QE programs have a tendency to drive equity markets higher too, and this time is no exception.

    Why CBA and other ASX banks and insurers will benefit this time

    However, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) believes that ASX banks and insurers will benefit more this time round as opposed to tech stocks.

    The ASX tech darlings, such as the Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) share price and Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price, have received a big boost from previous QE injections.

    This is evidenced by the rapid expansion in their price-earnings (P/E) ratios earlier in the year.

    “The sectors that benefit more from the next $100bn of QE may be different to the ones that saw the largest PE expansion over April to October,” said Macquarie.

    “In particular, we may see more PE expansion from Insurance and Banks. The PEs for both sectors initially rose with RBA Investments, but then de-coupled in September as the market anticipated further RBA easing.”

    Upside potential for the CBA share price

    The broker noted that unless the RBA moves to suppress the yields on longer-term bonds, there is more upside than downside risk for the 10-year yields over the next six months.

    Rising yields will allow P/Es of banks and insurers to recouple with the RBA’s QE investments. If this prediction comes to pass, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price, National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) share price and QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price could outperform.

    Good news not in the price

    What’s more, the market is yet to price in the $100 billion tailwind for these stocks.

    “With all the focus on the US Election, we think the significance of the RBA’s additional $100bn in QE has not received the attention it deserves,” added Macquarie.

    “Sure A$100bn looks small compared to the US$3tr added by the [US Federal Reserve] in 2020, but Australia’s economy is smaller.”

    But ASX banks and insurers aren’t the only ASX stocks well placed to deliver outsized returns in 2021. The experts at the Motley Fool have picked another group that that think make great buys for the year ahead.

    Follow the link below to find out more.

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    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau owns shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank Limited. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

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  • Actinogen Medical (ASX:ACW) share price jumps on patent news

    share price jump

    The Actinogen Medical Ltd (ASX: ACW) share price jumped 4.5% on open this morning, after the company announced it has filed two new patent applications to strengthen and extend its intellectual property (IP) portfolio.  

    What does Actinogen Medical do?

    Actinogen Medical is an ASX biotech company. It specialises in developing novel therapies of a range of conditions. These include neurological, psychiatric and metabolic diseases associated with chronically elevated cortisol. This is a metabolic disorder caused by overproduction of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal cortex. Often it is associated with obesity and high blood pressure.

    The lead compound currently being developed by Actinogen is called “Xanamem”. This compound is a new type of therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, Fragile X syndrome, schizophrenia and diabetes. According to the company, solutions to effectively address these conditions and the burdens for patients have not yet adequately been met. It is therefore focusing on the gap in this market.

    Why are these patents important?

    The two patents filed this week are to expand and extend the company’s IP estate. 

    The first patent filed requests protection for a method of improving cognition or treating cognitive decline in cognitively healthy subjects. Expansion of the IP estate is a key goal here.

    The second patent filed provided protection to a commercial scale-up manufacturing process for Xanamem. This patent is the result of a collaborative effort between Actinogen Medical and a Switzerland-based contract development and manufacturing organisation.

    Actinogen holds a large number of patents, either granted or pending. The new patents filed this week have the ability to extend patent life. Protection around Xanamem is now effective until 2040 at least. This gives the company a long runway of breathing room to continue its research and development.

    In statement to the ASX today, Actinogen Medical CEO and managing director Dr Bill Ketelbey had this to say:

    Strengthening our IP portfolio and extending the patent life of protection over Xanamem is aligned with our broader commercialisation strategy for Xanamem. The potential to treat cognitively healthy subjects, a population in which XanaHES demonstrated clear efficacy results, as well as treat those at risk of cognitive impairment, is a significant medical and commercial opportunity. Equally, the patented and optimised manufacturing methodology provides an efficient and commercially viable process which provides a substantial new barrier to competition. Actinogen remains focused on maintaining and extending the protection of Xanamem to maximise its commercial potential.

    Foolish takeaway

    The Actinogen Medical share price opened 4.5% higher on this positive news today. However, overall this year the Actinogen Medical share price is down more than 30%. 

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    Motley Fool contributor glennleese has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • ASX 200 jumps 1.7%: REA Group surges to record high, bank shares push higher

    ASX share price rise represented by two investors high fiving

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the week in fine form and is surging higher again. At lunch, the benchmark index is up a sizeable 1.7% to 6,295 points.

    Here’s what is happening on the market today:

    REA Group shares surge higher.

    The REA Group Limited (ASX: REA) share price has continued its strong run and surged to a record high on Monday. This morning analysts at Goldman Sachs retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on the property listings company’s shares to $143.00 following its strong first quarter update. The broker expects REA Group to benefit from a near term listings recovery and a step change in earnings as it introduces Premiere Plus.

    Bank shares climb.

    The majority of the big four banks are climbing higher on Monday, albeit not quite as strongly as the ASX 200 index. The only bank missing out on the gains today is Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX: ANZ). The ANZ share price is down 1% at lunch after trading ex-dividend this morning for its 35 cents per share final dividend. If you took this dividend out of the equation, ANZ’s shares would be pushing higher today.

    BHP completes Shenzi deal.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is pushing higher after announcing the completion of its acquisition of an additional 28% working interest in Shenzi from Hess Corporation. Shenzi is a six-lease development in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. With this transaction bringing BHP’s working interest to 72%, it adds approximately 11,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production (90% oil) as of the transaction closing date of 6 November 2020.

    Best and worst ASX 200 performers.

    The REA Group share price is the best performer on the ASX 200 on Monday with a gain of 7.5%. This follows a positive response to its first quarter update by brokers. The worst performer with a 2.5% decline is the Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price. Concerns over China potentially banning Australian coal imports appears to be weighing on its shares.

    Man who said buy Kogan shares at $3.63 says buy these 3 ASX stocks 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.*

    In this FREE STOCK REPORT, Scott just revealed what he believes are the 3 ASX stocks for the post COVID world that investors should buy right now while they still can. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks these could really go gangbusters as we move into ‘the new normal’.

    *Returns as of 6/8/2020

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended REA Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Why Platinum, ReadyTech, Tabcorp, & Whitehaven shares are dropping lower

    shares lower

    In late morning trade the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a strong gain. At the time of writing the benchmark index is up 1.5% to 6,281.4 points.

    Four shares that have missed out on the rally today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping lower:

    Platinum Asset Management Ltd (ASX: PTM)

    The Platinum share price is down almost 1% to $3.07 following the release of its latest funds under management update. According to the release, during October, the fund manager experienced net outflows of approximately $197 million. But thanks to favourable market movements, the company’s funds under management grew 1.3% month on month to $21,769 million.

    ReadyTech Holdings Ltd (ASX: RDY)

    The ReadyTech share price has fallen 2% to $1.96 after returning from a trading halt. The education and employment software as a service provider’s shares were halted last week whilst it launched a $25 million institutional placement at $1.88 per new share. This represents a 6.2% discount to its last close price. These funds will be used for the potential acquisitions of leading government-based software provider, Open Office, and justice case management software provider, McGirr.

    Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH)

    The Tabcorp share price has dropped 1.5% to $4.04. Investors have been selling the gambling company’s shares after it experienced an outage over the weekend. The major outage impacted its TAB, Keno, and Gaming Services operations and systems from around 11:30am AEDT on Saturday. The majority of its services have now been restored. Management’s immediate focus is on ensuring the systems return to optimal service levels in coming days.

    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

    The Whitehaven share price is down almost 3% to $1.06 despite there being no news out of the coal miner. However, as I mentioned here earlier today, Whitehaven has recently become one of the most shorted shares on the Australian share market. Investors appears concerned by reports that China is banning Australian coal imports.

    Where to 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 are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

    *Returns as of June 30th

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    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 Readytech Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Readytech Holdings Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Crown (ASX:CWN) share price bucked bad news to rise 6% last week

    colourful striped umbrella amidst all black umbrellas

    The Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) share price rose by 6.7% last week, despite a barrage of bad news. 

    On one hand, the company is planning to open its new establishment at Barangaroo on 14 December. On the other hand the gaming commission inquiry has heard that Crown is unsuitable to hold the casino licence.

    Counsel assisting the inquiry also stated clearly that the influence of Packer and his private company Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH) had a “deleterious impact on the good governance of Crown”.

    Even NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has cast doubt on the opening of Crown’s NSW casino, stating that she would seek “urgent and immediate” advice on the matter. 

    How has the Crown share price performed recently?

    The Crown share price fell dramatically prior to its AGM. This was after the company’s largest institutional investor, Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT), declared it would vote to oppose the re-election of three directors. This follows months of public discussion of money laundering accusations at Crown. Financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC has also declared “serious concerns” over the issue, driving it to launch its own investigation.

    On the day before Crown’s AGM, the company formally announced the termination of all agreements between Crown and CPH. In addition, the AGM saw a strong protest vote against three directors, as well as the board’s remuneration report. The abstention by CPH allowed the directors to retain their seats, but also caused the remuneration report to receive a “first strike”.

    Additionally, the Australian Financial Review reports that the federal Labor Party has demanded Crown chair Helen Coonan be removed from her role as the head of the federal government’s Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

    Nevertheless, the Crown share price began to edge upwards after its AGM.

    Foolish takeaway

    The resignation of two directors, termination of all agreements between CPH and Crown, and the continuing gaming commission inquiry are all an exercise in transparency and accountability.

    Amid the recent turbulence, the Crown share price continues to rise, sitting at $9.04 at the time of writing.

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  • AVITA Therapeutics (ASX:AVH) share price climbs higher on reverse ageing project

    The AVITA Therapeutics Inc (ASX: AVH) share price is pushing higher on Monday following the release of an announcement.

    At the time of writing, the regenerative medicine company’s shares are up over 2.5% to $6.10.

    Why is the AVITA share price pushing higher?

    Investors have been buying the company’s shares this morning after it announced a preclinical research collaboration with Houston Methodist Research Institute.

    According to the release, the collaboration will see the pairing of AVITA’s proprietary Spray-On Skin Cells with Houston Methodist Research Institute’s expertise in reversing cellular ageing.

    The project is ultimately seeking to establish proof-of-concept for the development of a novel approach to reverse ageing and rejuvenate skin. It also includes the potential for broader applicability, such as scar revision and wound healing.

    In addition to this, AVITA has entered into an option agreement to negotiate an exclusive, worldwide license to this patented technology for skin applications. It also has the first right of negotiation to technologies emerging from the collaboration for potential further development and commercialisation.

    Management commentary.

    AVITA Therapeutics’ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mike Perry, commented: “The Houston Methodist Research Institute is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge approaches for reversing cellular aging, and we look forward to working together on the exploration of combining their technology with AVITA Therapeutics’ proprietary Spray-on Skin Cells to rejuvenate aging skin.”

    “This collaboration expands our pipeline to include exploration of modified-cells delivery and is another milestone in our commitment to harnessing the promise of regenerative medicine and unlocking the full potential of our technology platform to improve patients’ lives through skin restoration,” he added.

    This sentiment was echoed by the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

    The Institute’s Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., commented: “AVITA Therapeutics’ innovative platform has advanced care for burn patients, and we are encouraged by the progress we have seen with our technology in improving cell function through our progeria research.”

    “We look forward to collaborating with AVITA to combine our respective technology platforms to explore a potential new approach to reverse aging and improve functionality of skin. Our experience in RNAbased methods to regenerate blood vessels and reverse age-related endotheliopathy is directly relevant to skin repair and rejuvenation,” he concluded.

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    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 Avita Medical Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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