News

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)…

The world is largely open for travel. As vaccination rates peak, governments across the globe are managing to contain COVID-19 and relax border restrictions. Travel in China, however, is heavily compromised by COVID restrictions. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), “North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42% of their 2019 peaks…

I believe there are a few ASX blue-chip shares that have better futures than the market is giving credit. Every business on the ASX (and other global stock exchanges) has a share price. That share price has expectations built into it – the future profit margins, how much revenue could grow, market share, potential dividends,…

ETF Securities and 21Shares have confirmed the launch of Australia’s first Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds ( ETFs), allowing local investors to invest in both cryptocurrencies. According to a press announcement, the leading provider of exchange-traded funds will launch two funds offering simple and cost-effective access to cryptocurrency investments. They are: ETFS 21Shares Bitcoin ETF…

The new-generation wealth management platforms, Praemium (ASX:PPS), HUB24 (ASX:HUB) and Netwealth (ASX:NWL) are once again gaining ground, with all three players delivering record net inflows over the March quarter of 2022; in stark contrast to the active funds management sector, which is seeing the opposite trend.   Leading the pack was HUB24 (ASX:HUB), which posted…