News

After the minor shock of Omicron, the COVID-19 pandemic looks to be nearing its end for most locations. A new world order post covid is characterised by geo-political tensions, heightened inflation and rising interest rates. Asset manager, Datt Capital, is of the view that investing will remain challenging in an unstable post-covid environment. Emanuel Datt,…

Microsoft’s acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard has turned a lot of heads. While Blizzard makes many famous video games – Call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft – the firm has been declining for years. Headlines have focussed on sexual harassment within the firm. Yet Blizzard’s problems extend beyond culture. Thanks to what…

First, it was GameStop and the era of the ‘meme’ stocks. Then it was the Archegos hedge fund making massive bets on well-known technology companies. More recently, it was a massive spike in the price of Nickel. What all these events have in common was that they all involved a ‘short squeeze’. Short squeezes have…

What exactly is the Metaverse? It’s one of the buzziest words right now. Will the Metaverse change the way we live, work, and socialize – or is it all hype? The Origin of ‘Metaverse’ The term “Metaverse” can be traced back to Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash. In the novel, characters enter the…

Blood diagnostic company Haemokinesis Limited is ASX-bound, with its $17 million share issue, at 20 cents a share, closing this Wednesday, with Haemokinesis expected to commence trading on the exchange on Friday, 8 April. When it hits the screens Haemokinesis will have a market capitalisation of $77 million. Haemokinesis – which means “moving blood with…

And that’s a wrap. Another positive earnings season, with 47 per cent of the S&P/ASX 200 Index beating on revenue estimates and 44 per cent beating on EPS (earnings per share) estimates. Ausbil Investment Management has released its reporting season wrap and outlook for earnings going forward. Here are the highlights: HY22 was another positive…

Hong Kong stocks are on a tear, rising some 7 per cent in the past week at the time of writing, boosted by the tech sector. It’s all to do with the US regulators wanting to delist Chinese stocks. China’s Securities Regulatory Commission is considering allowing US officials to inspect documents on firms that don’t…

The ASX 200 has fallen 5.5% in 2022 as inflation fears spook investors. Inflation reached 7.9% in the United States. It’s not nearly as bad in Australia, but 3.5% is still well above what economists prefer. Here are three ASX 200 shares to buttress your portfolio against inflation. 1. Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) Woolworths is…

It could be a smart move to consider ASX blue chip shares during this period of intense volatility since the start of the year. Blue chips are typically ones that have strong positions in the market and can offer more reliability in times of economic difficulties. I’d only want to go for opportunities that are showing…

Reporting season is over. Companies are cashed up following what was a stronger-than-expected interim earnings season despite facing a myriad of uncertainty-ridden events such as the lockdowns, restrictions and border closures, supply chain constraints, rising inflation and the war in Ukraine. While 2021 was generally a positive year, the outlook for 2022 is mired in…

The pandemic combined with the invasion of Ukraine has sent global commodity markets into flux. Commodities ranging from grain to crude oil are surging to near-record levels with 2020’s demand weakness offset by 2022’s significant supply-chain issues. In an environment of growing volatility and inflation, investors are naturally seeking hedges for their portfolios with gold…

Despite the headwinds caused by Covid-19, its lockdowns and supply chain disruptions, the February 2022 reporting season delivered positive earnings momentum. Blackmore Capital’s Marcus Bogdan says net earnings upgrades to S&P/ASX 200 profits were  0.9% or $1.3bn, the second strongest result since the global financial crisis.  Bogdan goes on to say, “Reporting had some pleasant…