News

Last week’s CPI print from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) revealed a 5.1% increase, well above the central bank’s target band of 2-3%. The increase had been anticipated by the market given the flurry of quarterly updates by ASX during April highlighted inflation across various sectors with no clear end in sight: Audinate, the…

Stockbroker and wealth manager Morgans has released its “best ideas” paper, which outlines the broker’s best ideas offering the highest risk-adjusted returns over a 12-month timeframe supported by a higher-than-average level of confidence. They are also the broker’s most preferred sector exposures. Here are six of its best picks: Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) – Large-cap idea –…

It’s been a bumpy ride for the BHP in 2022, with the share price of Australia’s now largest company resembling more of a rollercoaster than a blue-chip company. In the last two weeks alone, the BPH share price fell top to bottom 15% – eliminating $50 billion in market capitalisation – before recovering part of…

The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price is under the spotlight after releasing its FY22 third-quarter update. Growth continues for Zip The buy now, pay later business told investors how it performed in the three months to 31 March 2022. Group quarterly revenue increased by 39% year on year to $159.2 million. This came after transaction…

The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price is up 3% after the miner announced record shipments. Fortescue is one of Australia’s largest iron ore miners. How much resources it produces can have a significant impact on shareholder returns. Fortescue’s strong quarter Here are some of the highlights from Fortescue’s quarterly update: FY22 Q3 quarterly ore…

If there was an award for the exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the best ticker code, it would unanimously be awarded to ETF Securities’ Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC). Named after Australia’s most high-voltage rock band, ACDC provides Australian investors with diversified exposure to the renewable energy megatrend; specifically, companies involved in building battery technology and…

The March quarter is well and truly over. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine is not. Chart 1: World equity market returns – March Quarter 2022 Looking at the world chart above, equity markets tumbled across the board in the quarter, except for some small pockets in Singapore and Australia. According to Ausbil, much of it…

From humble beginnings, when it listed on the ASX in April 1996, Steadfast Group (ASX:SDF) has grown exponentially, and is now Australasia’s largest general insurance broker network, comprising brokerages with more than 500 offices across metropolitan and regional Australia and New Zealand. Considered a market leader and an innovator in insurance broking, Steadfast has been…

I recently stumbled on Macquarie’s Open Table national seated dinners chart, which offered a stunning surprise for those commuting to still-empty cities. It shows that Australia is back at pre-Covid levels in terms of eating out, as “restaurant seated diners” numbers have fully recovered. In March 2020, COVID-19 had a disastrous effect as it shut…

After recent reporting of an imminent deal, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) today announced the lion’s share of CollimateCapital (formerly AMP Capital) assets under management (AUM) would be sold to listed real estate giant Dexus Property Group (ASX: DXS). The sale ends AMP’s original plan to spin off Collimate into its own independent ASX-listed company while…

The ASX All Technology Index is down 23% in 2022 in large part to fears about rising inflation, interest rates and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The selling has been indiscriminate. High-quality shares such as Xero are down over 30% while more nascent businesses like Zip are down 75%. Despite the carnage in ASX tech shares, the…

While the crisis in Ukraine enters its fourth month, the knock-on effect caused by supply disruptions to energy and commodity prices has been a positive windfall for companies listing in April. In total there were 13 companies that listed on the ASX, with the majority being either energy- or materials-focused, in particular, battery minerals (lithium)…