ASX Live | ASX looks weaker, Wall St Closed for Holiday, Big news in mining

Talking to average investors, the most common refrain I hear is, ‘im being defensive at the moment’.

This often means bonds or term deposits, which are offering around 5%.

However, while this could be regarded as the safest play— it’s also a losing one.

Your returns after inflation are actually negative.

So are there alternatives in the market that could provide bigger gains without pushing your risk profile through the roof?

The answer is dividends.

While they are certainly riskier than the ‘defensive play’, they are also an option where you can fight back against inflation.

Have a look below at some of our picks to find your own balanced option.

https://commodities.fattail.com.au/if-you-want-some-serious-income-start-with-these-five-stocks/2023/07/03/

A new survey has found that millions of Australians are putting buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments ahead of their other monthly obligations.

The survey, conducted by Finder, found that 2 in 5 Australians (43%) used a BNPL account in the past six months.

Of those who have an account, 1 in 3 (2.8 million people) have skipped another bill in order to meet their BNPL repayments.

The most common bills that people were skipping were energy bills (14%), personal loans (10%), and mortgage repayments (9%).

Some people had even gone as far as skipping meals (11%) in order to meet their BNPL repayments.

Finder money expert Sarah Megginson said that many people were becoming too reliant on BNPL payments.

‘The BNPL system has seen millions of people fear the thought of having to pay for things in one single transaction,‘ Megginson said. ‘Many are going into huge debt thinking they can afford to buy lavish items and pay it off later, and get trapped in the cycle of spending money.’

Megginson warned that BNPL payments could be more expensive than credit cards, due to late fees and account fees. Research from Curtin University found that the fees for missing BNPL payments could equate to a 276.12% effective interest rate, based on a $30 purchase and the maximum potential fees.

Megginson said that new government regulation would see the BNPL system considered a credit product for the first time, which was a step in the right direction.

‘People are forgoing essential items in order to meet their repayments on time and the domino effect this can have is unimaginable,’ Megginson said. ‘The regulation will see lower fees and charges for those who get caught out with multiple transactions draining their accounts.’

The new regulation is expected to come into effect in 2023. In the meantime, Megginson urged people to use BNPL responsibly and to only use it for purchases that they can afford to pay off in full.

Some have pointed to delays in dealership orders for new car sales boost, but regardless the jump in sales shows strength in consumer spending still present.

Australian new vehicle sales totalled 124,926 in June 2023, the biggest number of monthly sales since June 2018. Sales increased by 25% on a year ago and 8.2% in the first half of 2023. Source: FCAI. #ausecon #inflation #business #Australia@CommSec pic.twitter.com/BDDHHcZF0W

— CommSec (@CommSec) July 5, 2023

As fixed-rate mortgage terms come to an end, borrowers may face the possibility of increased repayments, leading to financial difficulties.

The 4% increase in the cash rate over the past year could have a significant impact on borrowers, resulting in a surge in monthly payments in arrears.

This increase could potentially reach up to 63%, according to Canstar finance expert Steve Mickenbecker, who remarked on the problem:

‘Fixed-rate borrowers have not had the past year to acclimatise to higher interest rates. They have avoided the pain of adjusting their budget for higher loan repayments but will be on the receiving end of the Reserve Bank’s 12 cash increases over the past year all in one huge hit.‘

According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, about $350 billion worth of fixed-rate home loans, accounting for around half of all such loans, are set to expire this year.

The situation could worsen if the cash rate, as forecasted by NAB and Westpac, continues to increase in the future.

Mortgage cliff will send this to the gfc highs at current rates.

Also this little problem.

“Unemployment is the factor which has the largest impact on income and mortgage stress”

So many 💣 💣 💣 and only early days. pic.twitter.com/KOFuoC6pyH

— John Spitzer (@ASX1500) July 4, 2023

ASX 200 down 0.30% to 7,257.5 around midday

The best individual performers:

• Mercury NZ [ASX:MCY], up 5.72%
• Lynas Rare Earths [ASX:LYC], up 3.19%
• De Grey Mining [ASX:DEG], up 2.90%
• Lifestyle Communities [ASX:LIC], up 2.77%
• Seek Ltd [ASX:SEK], up 2.71%

The worst performers:

• AMP Ltd [ASX:AMP], down 7.02%
• Graincorp Ltd [ASX:GNC], down 3.30%
• Nickel Industries [ASX:NIC], down 3.21%
• Perseus Mining [ASX:PRU], down 3.01%
• Neuren Pharmaceuticals [ASX:NEU], down 2.93%

Update as of 12:30pm AEST

AMP, has been ruled against in a class action lawsuit known as the Buyer of Last Resort Class action proceedings by the Victorian federal court.

The claim is related to a decision made by AMP in the past to lower the earnings multiple at which it planned to buy financial planning businesses from certain advisers.

The court acknowledged the loss incurred by two group members, namely Equity Financial Planners ($813,560) and Wealthstone ($115,533).

The court has only decided on the amounts payable to these two members, while further processes will consider the decision on other group members.

AMP is currently reviewing the judgment in detail to determine its next steps and will provide an update in due course.

The potential total compensation owed to other class members is unclear but is believed to be significant.

As a result, AMP’s stock is currently in a trading halt.

 

The ANZ Consumer Confidence Index 4 week moving average is at its 2nd lowest level in 30 years.

It's worth noting that this period includes the highest Aussie unemployment rate since the Great Depression. pic.twitter.com/4ZbZzZTOmP

— Tarric Brooker aka Avid Commentator 🇦🇺 (@AvidCommentator) July 4, 2023

Junior miners today posted impressive results across the board today.

Here are some of the updates:

Torque Metals [ASX:TOR] announced a massive gold mineralised zones at its Paris site with its first pass diamond drilling prospects. Best intercepts include:

35m @ 14.12 g/t Au from 157.85m (23PRCDD076)
2.49m @ 40.6 g/t Au from 167.8m, and
4.44m @ 20.82 g/t Au from 170.3m, and
1.2m @ 185 g/t Au from 174.7m, all within

14.76m @ 7.6 g/t Au from 168.13m (23PRCDD077)
1.04m @ 83.59 g/t Au from 181.34m, within

16m @ 2.73 g/t Au from 18m (23ODD001)
3m @ 12 g/t Au from 19m within

St George Mining [ASX:SGQ] lithium results for Mt Alexander project reported wide zone intersects with multiple pegmatites. Early modelling suggests a wide corridor that is awaiting drill testing. Early tests show peak values of 1.28% Li₂O

Patriot Battery Metals [ASX:PMT] Boasts a huge 6% Li₂O Spodumene concentrate in the preliminary sampling of its Canadian site.

Black canyon [ASX:BCA] sampling over the Wandanya tenement has delivered high-grade surface rock samples of up to 54% manganese from an outcrop that is approximately 300m long and 150m wide.

Krakatoa Resources [ASX:KTA] announced multiple rock-chip samples over 2% Li₂O in a mineralised zone of approximately 800m. Planning has commenced for an imminent RC drilling program for the area and newly identified Wilsons prospect outcrop.

Westgold Resources [WGX] announced today that it has achieved the top end of FY23 production guidance of 257,116 oz of gold. The company now estimates a Q4 increase in cash, bullion and assets of $24m, up from Q3 $9m.

Greenstone Resources [ASX:GSR] has updated it’s indicated and inferred resource at Coolgardie Mining Centre by 57%. Phase 1 has now been completed with 10km of drilling. Updates of the projects show:

Burbanks: 6,052,889t @ 2.4g/t gold for 465,567 ounces of contained gold (+68%)
Phillips Find: 732,960t @ 2.3g/t gold for 54,567 ounces of contained gold (unchanged)

American West Metals [ASX:AW1] continues to uncover high grades of copper at the Storm Copper Project in Canada.

The latest intersects show:

Drill hole SR23-17 has intersected:

15.3m @ 1.6% Cu from 59.4m, including,
7.6m @ 2.9% Cu from 64m, including,
3.1m @ 4.8% Cu from 64m

Drill hole SR23-10 has intersected:

9.1m @ 1.1% Cu from 62.5m, including,
1.5m @ 2.8% Cu from 62.5m, and,
1.5m @ 2.1% Cu from 65.5m
3.1m @ 1.4% Cu from 76.2m, including,
1.6m @ 2.1% Cu from 77.7m

Drill hole SR23-12 has intersected:

7.6m @ 1.1% Cu from 106.7m, including,
3.1m @ 2.1% Cu from 109.7m

Drill hole SR23-18 has intersected:

7.7m @ 1% Cu from 59.4m, including,
4.6m @ 1.4% Cu from 62.5m, including,
1.5m @ 2.6% Cu from 64

John Lyng Group announced the 100% acquisition of Project Safety Holdings Pty Ltd and 70% of Link Fire Holdings Pty Ltd for total upfront cash consideration of $61.8 million plus an earn-out of $17.25 million.

The acquisitions are said to be part of the group’s 5th strategic pillar to expand further into ‘Essential Home Services’ to provide turnkey solutions for homeowners and property managers.

The cost of the acquisitions will be funded through a $65 million share raise.

Property services business Johns Lyng Group was expected to launch a $65 million raise this morning.

On Tuesday evening, it was reported that Johns Lyng reached out to JPMorgan investment bank and fund managers to gain their support.

The stock is currently in a trading halt.

Morning all early bird investors!

ASX Futures signals a weaker ASX 200 today. US Equities closed for Independence Day Holiday. The big news is coming from the mining sector today.

Stay tuned.

Market Update

All figures shown are from 9:15pm AEST

• $AUD up +0.05% at 66.92 US cents
• ASX futures up +0.16% to 7,228.5
• Wall St Closed for Independence Day
• FTSE down -0.10%
• STOXX flat at 10,138.37
• SSE up +0.042%
• Bitcoin down -0.93% to $US 30,839.69
• Spot gold up +0.21% to $US 1,925.33
• Iron ore down -1.51% to $US 110.87
• Brent Crude up +1.97% to $US 76.12pb