There are two massive concerns for investors and the world in general this year: energy and recession.

While energy prices rocketed last year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that supply-demand imbalance is expected to continue in 2023.

"We think the outlook for energy stocks is attractive because there's just not a lot of supply coming in," Schroders portfolio manager Ray David told The Motley Fool earlier this year.

"No one really wants to invest in fossil fuels or LNG or gas without the high prices to justify the returns, because everyone's quite worried about renewables and the ESG factors."

As for a recession, this will be a reality in some parts of the world, even if Australia does not quite hit the definition. 

Regardless, consumers and businesses will be suffering alike after ten months of steep interest rate rises.

'We would be buying into dips'

Gold is a commodity often spruiked as a "safe haven" for tougher economic times.

But the gold price did rocket up about 20% between November and February as recession fears struck investors.

Shaw and Partners portfolio manager James Gerrish likes the gold sector with a medium to long term horizon.

"Short term further downside wouldn't surprise," Gerrish said in a Market Matters Q&A.

"We are overweight the sector hence will not be averaging into further weakness if it eventuates but we would be buying into dips if we held no position."

The main ASX stock involved with gold production that he would buy now is Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), especially if it falls to around the $10 mark.

The share price closed Wednesday at $10.35.

"Similarly we like Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) ~$2.70, but following its average result we would be more likely to opt for Northern Star."

Evolution shares finished Wednesday at $2.76.

Is an old solution the new solution?

As for the energy crisis, nuclear power generation is coming back into favour in many countries as a way to instantly bolster their home-grown supply.

This has seen a revival in investor interest for uranium producers.

"A lot of moving parts are involved when it comes to the uranium price but appetite is building as other energy costs rise as the world strives to move away from fossil fuels," said Gerrish in another Market Matters Q&A.

"We are bullish uranium moving forward although when [it] starts to really gain traction is hard to forecast due to the uncertain geo-political backdrop."

Gerrish named two ASX shares that he would buy to gain exposure to uranium.

"Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) and Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE), they are both volatile stocks which we like into dips."

Gerrish's team would be tempted to buy when Paladin sneaks under the 70 cent mark and Boss dips below $2.50.

They closed Wednesday at 66.5 cents and $2.36 respectively.

The Market Matters team already owns Paladin Energy in its emerging companies portfolio.

The post Uranium and gold: What are the best ASX shares to buy for these minerals? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The fossil fuel energy shares have benefited from rocketing prices as much of the world scrambles to replace Russian supplies, restricted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But what about ASX energy shares digging up a different source of power?

Yes, I'm talking about ASX uranium stocks.

How have these alternate ASX energy stocks been tracking?

Over the past 12 months, only one of the four leading uranium miners is in the green.

Here's how their share prices have moved since this time last year:

• The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price is down 20%
• Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN) shares are down 25%
• The Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) share price has lost 24%
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares are up 3%

However, 2023 is looking more promising for these alternative ASX energy stocks. That's partly due to a 6% increase in the uranium price since 1 January, currently at US$51 per pound.

Here's how these companies have performed since the opening bell on 3 January:

• The Paladin Energy share price is up 5%
• Bannerman Energy shares are up 3%
• The Deep Yellow share price is down 3%
• Boss Energy shares are up 26%

Could uranium stocks be the next ones to rocket?

While the global demand for uranium isn't going to soar overnight, the trend is certainly pointing to long-term growth.

And investors with longer-term horizons could well help bid up ASX energy stocks focused on uranium in the lead-up to forecast increases in demand.

Even the Japanese look to be overcoming their fear of nuclear power. Those fears were stoked by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant disaster. The facility suffered a meltdown in the aftermath of an earthquake-driven tsunami.

That saw all of Japan's 54 reactors shut down for safety inspections.

Today, only 33 of those reactors remain in operable condition, and only 10 of those are up and running.

According to a report by Bloomberg, those 10 plants produce roughly 10% of Japan's electricity needs.

And in what could be good news for ASX energy stocks digging up uranium, a survey by Japanese publication Asahi Shimbun indicates that 51% of Japanese people now are in favour of restarting the idle reactors, with 42% opposed. That's the first time a majority has supported the move since the paper commenced polling in the wake of the meltdown.

Now, it's unlikely Japan will fire up all of its idle reactors overnight. Or even this year.

But prime minister Fumio Kishida is among those in favour of nuclear power. Atop extending the lifespan of existing plants, Japan is also looking into building next-generation reactors.

And it's not just Japan eyeing a big lift in nuclear power.

ASX energy stocks producing uranium could also see increased demand from France and Germany. Both nations are now considering extending the life spans of their own reactors, rather than shuttering them early.

The United Kingdom is going a step further, with ambitious plans to build a series of new modular reactors.

Then there's China, which has some 17 large-scale nuclear power stations under construction.

Again, this is a long-term trend.

But with Australia having the world's largest proven uranium reserves, ASX uranium shares are well-positioned to take advantage of the growing global interest in nuclear energy.

The post Could these be the next ASX energy stocks to rocket? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Reporting season might be fantastic for those who love being bombarded with numbers but for the rest of us, it can be overwhelming.

That's why it can be helpful to lean on other people's work and listen to which ASX shares the professionals liked out of the frenzy.

Shaw and Partners portfolio manager James Gerrish had two such tips this week:

This business 'looks extremely well positioned'

Animal feed provider Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) has enjoyed a 53.5% rise in its share price over the past 12 months.

In the past week, it hit all-time highs after the company released its results.

According to Gerrish, Ridley exceeded market expectations with a 25.4% boost in revenue to $637.9 million.

"No guidance was given but this $712 million 30-year-old business looks extremely well positioned over the years ahead, especially with its 17.5x valuation not being too demanding against a good pathway for growth," he said in a Market Matters Q&A.

"Market Matters likes this business whose more than 3% fully franked dividend is an added bonus."

Other professionals mostly agree. According to CMC Markets, four out of the five analysts that cover Ridley currently rate the stock as a buy.

"Also, to add spice to the mix, Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest holds a 6.53% stake in the company through his Tattarang vehicle."

'Compelling from a risk/reward perspective' 

It's been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine.

As well as the horrendous death toll on both sides and the violent disruption of a democratic country, the war set off a global energy crisis.

One solution that gained momentum is going back to nuclear power.

That method of generating electricity fell out of favour in recent times, especially after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

But last year's events rocketed energy security to the top of the priority list for many governments.

Gerrish revealed that his emerging companies portfolio currently contains uranium miner Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN).

"We are happy buyers at current levels — around 74 cents on Friday afternoon."

However, he had a tip for those interested in dipping their toes into nuclear energy.

"Both Paladin and the uranium sector is a volatile space, which we like, but remain keen to keep some ammunition to accumulate into aggressive dips which have occurred regularly over the last 18 months," said Gerrish. 

"Another dip towards 65 cents would look very compelling from a risk/reward perspective."

The Paladin Energy share price is down 3.9% compared to 12 months ago.

The post 'Happy buyers': Expert's 2 ASX shares to grab after boom reporting season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the week with its first gain since Monday, lifting 0.3% to close at 7,307 points. That leaves it 0.54% lower than where it finished the previous week.

But not all was well on the index on Friday. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tumbled 1.2% despite the Allkem Ltd (ASX: AKE) share price jumping on the back of the company's record first-half revenue.

Fortunately, however, all other sectors ended the day in the green.

Leading the way was the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). It lifted 2.4%, helped along by the Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) share price, which gained 5.9% on the tech giant's quarterly earnings.

But Block wasn't today's top-performing ASX 200 share. Let's take a look at which stock took out the title on Friday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's biggest gain was posted by the Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) share price. It surged 7.5% today, recovering much of the 7.8% tumble it experienced yesterday on the release of its first-half earnings.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) followed Tuesday's pop with an 1.06% drop on Wednesday, falling to close at 7,352.2 points.

It came amid a deluge of earnings from some of the market's biggest names including Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG).

Weighing on the market today was the massive S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ). It tumbled 3.4% as the big four banks weighed heavily, led by the CBA share price's 5.7% fall.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) also had a rough session, dropping 1.4%.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was among the top-performing sectors today, rising 0.5% with earnings from Wesfarmers and GUD Holdings Limited (ASX: GUD).

And I can tell you today's top-performing ASX 200 stock is at home on the consumer discretionary section. Let's take a look at what drove it sky-high on Wednesday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's biggest gains came from casino operator Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR). Its share price rocketed 14.4% in a partial recovery from recent losses.

The stock dived 20.8% on Monday on the back of a disappointing earnings update. It followed that up with a 13.5% tumble yesterday.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

So let's now dig a little deeper into these pleasing gains for the ASX 200 by taking stock of the ASX 200 shares that are presently at the peak of the share market's trading volume charts, according to investing.com.

The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Friday

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

First up this Friday is the ASX 200 telco Telstra. This session has had a hefty 12.57 million Telstra shares traded so far. There hasn't been any fresh news out from the telco giant for almost a month now. So this volume can probably be explained by the movements of the Telstra share price itself.

Telstra has had a bit of a bumpy ride over Friday thus far. At present, Telstra shares are up by 0.36% at $4.14, but have spent time in both positive and negative territory today, and got down to $4.11 at one point. This volatility is the most likely cause of these high volumes.

Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

Next up today we have ASX 200 lithium stock Sayona Mining. A sizeable 25.76 million Sayona shares have said sayonara to their old owners so far today. This looks like a probable consequence of the share price falls we have seen with Sayona today.

In defiance of the broader market, Sayona shares have slumped a meaningful 1.85% at this point of the session down to 26 cents a share. That's despite Sayona rising to 28 cents a share earlier this morning. This drop looks like the smoking gun behind the volumes we are witnessing.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

ASX 200 uranium miner Paladin is our third, final and most traded ASX 200 share to examine today. And what an examination it will be. Paladin has smashed the ASX 200's trading volumes today, with a whopping 247.25 million shares trading hands thus far.

Such a massive volume for Paladin is rather unusual, but there's no obvious explanation for this huge figure. Sure, the Paladin share price is down by a nasty 6.74% at present to 80 cents per share. So this could explain some of this elevated volume.

But perhaps an institutional buyer has come in and either loaded up or sold a very large parcel of shares. Whatever the cause, it looks like Paladin is set to hold its first place on the podium for the rest of the session.

The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today was a wobbly one for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). It jumped in and out of the green over the course of Monday before ultimately closing 0.16% lower at 7,481.7 points.

That was despite a 2.3% gain posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). The sector's strong performance followed a 1% overnight lift from the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC).

Also trading in the green was the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Index (ASX: XTJ). It rose 1.1% led by the Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) share price's 4.5% surge.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) weighed heavy, falling 0.7%. Its biggest fall was posted by the ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) share price, which dropped 6.8% on the back of the company's latest quarterly update.

But while the broader ASX 200 struggled on Monday, some of its constituents soared. Let's take a look at the 10 shares that outperformed all others today.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was none other than favourite Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO).

Stock in the company soared 8.85% to close at $1.23 on the release of its quarterly update.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended this week strong, gaining 0.23% on Friday to close at 7,452.2 points – its highest close since April 2022. That marks a 1.69% week-on-week improvement.

Its gains today came despite yet another disappointing session for New York-listed shares overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) and the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) both slipped 0.8% on Thursday's session, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) tumbled 1%.

That didn't stop the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) from posting a 1.4% gain. The sector rose alongside oil prices, which also jumped as much as 1.4% overnight.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) lifted 0.9%, driven by lithium and coal stocks.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) slumped 0.9% and 0.5% respectively.

Let's dive into the ten ASX 200 shares that ended the week with the biggest gains.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price outperformed all its peers on Friday, gaining 13% to close at $4.55.

Its gains followed the release of the lithium favourite's latest quarterly update, in which it saw production increase 10% on that of the prior period.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)

The Alumina share price is down 7.5% to $1.57. This follows the release of a fourth quarter update. That update revealed that the AWAC joint venture struggled with "input cost pressures combined with subdued alumina prices." As a result, the company's net receipts from AWAC were just $4.5 million in the second half of 2022.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price is down almost 10% to $12.58. This follows the release of a quarterly update from the investment platform provider. That update revealed a significant slowdown in net inflows. Netwealth's net inflows of $2,087 million were down 42% on the prior corresponding period and 29% from the first quarter. This reflects "larger than usual outflows in the High Net Worth (HNW) investors and mid-market segment.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

The Nickel Industries share price is down 8% to $1.03. This morning the nickel producer announced the completion of a $264 million institutional placement. These funds were raised at $1.02 per new share, which represents a 9% discount to its last close price. The proceeds will be used for acquisitions.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is down over 6% to 73 cents. This follows the release of the uranium developer's quarterly update. That update confirms that the company expects it to be another year until the Langer Heinrich Mine returns to production. Management is targeting the commencement of production during the first quarter of calendar year 2024.

The post Why Alumina, Netwealth, Nickel Industries, and Paladin Energy shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today has been no exception, with a large number of updates hitting the wires. Some have been positive; some have been less so.

Three that have led to big moves from ASX 200 shares today are summarised below. Here's what is happening:

Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)

The Nanosonics share price is rocketing higher today after the infection prevention company upgraded its full year guidance.

Its shares are up 11% at the time of writing after a stronger than expected first half led to management boosting its FY 2023 revenue growth guidance to between 36% and 41% from 20% to 25%.

One slight disappointment that investors appear willing to overlook is that its operating costs are now expected to grow 22% to 27% in FY 2023 instead of 15% to 18%.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price has come crashing down to earth after the release of the investment platform provider's quarterly update.

This ASX 200 share is down 10% after reporting a significant slowdown in net inflows. Although its funds under administration (FUA) grew 10.2% year over year to $62,414 million, its net inflows of $2,087 million were down 42% on the prior corresponding period and 29% from the first quarter.

This reflects "larger than usual outflows in the High Net Worth (HNW) investors and mid-market segment."

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is down 7% following the release of the uranium developer's quarterly update.

Investors may be disappointed that it is expected to be another year until the company's Langer Heinrich Mine returns to production. Management is targeting the commencement of production during the first quarter of calendar year 2024.

One positive is that Paladin finished the period with unrestricted cash of US$163.2 million.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares making big moves following trading updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) traded in the green on Monday, closing 0.59% higher at 7,151.3 points.

It followed a strong Friday session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed last week with a 2.1% gain, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) lifted 2.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) rose 2.6%.

Interestingly, however, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dragged on the Aussie bourse today. It fell 0.6% amid a 5.5% tumble posted by the Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) share price.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) posted a 1.4% gain, while the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) lifted 1%.

All in all, nine of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed higher on Monday. But which stock posted the biggest gain? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN).

Stock in the uranium explorer and producer gained 9.9% today to close at 74.8 cents despite the company's silence.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the week in the red. The index slumped 0.21% on Monday to close at 7,133.6 points.

Fortunately, that was a relatively tame tumble compared to that posted by New York indices on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.8%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dumped 1% amid recession concerns seemingly spurred by hawkish comments from US Federal Reserve officials.

Today also saw the ASX 200's latest quarterly rebalance take effect. Only two stocks were involved in the December shakeup. St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) was booted from the iconic index, and replaced by Monadelphous Group Limited (ASX: MND).

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) were today's top-performing sectors. They gained 0.5% and 0.4% respectively.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ), the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX:  XHJ), and the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) were among the worst performers. They dropped 0.8%, 0.8%, and 1.1% respectively.

But which ASX 200 share dodged today's carnage to post the strongest start to the week? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top performer was none other than Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC). Its stock rose around 5% despite the company's silence.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Though 2023 could present a different picture.

Soaring fossil fuel prices have sent the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) up 39% year to date.

Yet most ASX uranium shares remain in the red.

For example, in 2022:

• The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price is down 7%
• Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN) shares are down 35%
• The Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) share price has lost 27%
• And Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares have fallen 2%

Now, it's worth noting that all of the ASX uranium shares named above enjoyed very strong share price gains in 2021. Paladin shares, as one example, soared 267% over the full year. So a bit of a pause or retrace this year wasn't entirely unexpected.

But with nations across the world revisiting nuclear power as a reliable baseload source with negligible carbon emissions, ASX uranium shares could shine brightly again in 2023 and the years ahead.

Could this new UK plan help boost ASX uranium shares?

The United Kingdom doesn't make the list of nations with the most nuclear power plants in the pipeline. That honour goes to China, which has some 17 large-scale nuclear power stations under construction.

However, the UK is eager to extricate itself from the global energy crisis while moving away from coal and gas-fired power.

As The Times reports, Business secretary Grant Shapps is this week expected to announce the proposed creation of a new body called Great British Nuclear.

Great British Nuclear intends to develop 20 to 30 small modular nuclear reactors, built by Rolls-Royce.

The modular reactors are significantly cheaper to develop than traditional large-scale plants, with each reported to be able to power a million homes.

Australia's uranium trove

On completion, the modular reactors will need uranium to provide that power, as will the score of large-scale reactors being constructed in China and other nations the world over.

And with Australia sitting on the world's largest proven uranium reserves, ASX uranium shares could see the good times of 2021 come knocking once more.

The post Could this new UK plan help boost ASX uranium shares in 2023? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price has lifted 10.74% in a month, with the company's gains surviving a rout in the materials sector and the broader market over the past few days.

Shares in the uranium explorer are currently trading at 82.5 cents apiece.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is down 2.45% over the week and has been consistently the worst-performing sector in the recent past. Zooming out, however, and it's in the green with a 1.65% gain over the month.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has posted a small gain of 0.08% this week, and is up 6.07% over the month.

Some of Paladin's peer companies in the materials sector have also performed well over the month. Here's a snapshot of how they've performed.

• Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR): +36.36%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR): +20.43%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT): +7.86%

There have been several developments over the month that could be adding optimism to the Paladin share price. Let's cover the highlights.

What's going on with the Paladin share price?

Paladin posted its quarterly cash flow and activities reports for the quarter ending in September on 20 October.

The uranium explorer finished with a cash and cash equivalent balance of $163.44 million and has an estimated 68 quarters of funding available.

In its activities report, Paladin CEO, Ian Purdy gave an overview of its recent operational developments.

Purdy said:

It was pleasing to see restart activities commence at the Langer Heinrich Mine during the quarter. The attractiveness of Paladin as a counterparty and the quality of the offtake from the Langer Heinrich Mine continues to be reflected in the ongoing engagement we have with global power utilities, and we were pleased to secure an additional four tender awards for the supply of uranium concentrate.

With the combination of restart activities and a successful uranium marketing program Paladin is exceptionally well-positioned to benefit from the improving uranium market conditions.

Broker names Paladin as a buy

The company also received some positive coverage from a broker, naming it as a hot pick for investors interested in taking advantage of global emerging trends.

Red Leaf Securities chief John Athanasiou believes the European energy crisis makes Paladin a buy as the world weans itself off the dependence on Russian natural gas.

Athanasiou said:

The political momentum towards uranium as a clean and reliable energy source, particularly in Europe, is gathering pace. The uranium company owns a 75% stake in the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia. The share price is highly correlated to the uranium price.

Athanasiou continued:

We expect increasing uranium prices to be reflected in an improving share price moving forward.

Paladin share price snapshot

The Paladin share price is down 6.25% year to date. The S&P/ASX 200 Index, on the other hand, is performing worse, with an 7.98% loss over the same period.

The company's market capitalisation is around $2.45 billion.

The post Why has the Paladin Energy share price surged 11% in a month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you're finding it difficult to think of investment ideas at the moment, you're not the only one.

With so much turmoil in the world, even professional investors and the businesses themselves are grappling with uncertainty and low conviction.

This might mean it could be worthwhile clearing your mind. 

And what better way to start from a clean slate than start considering ASX shares that you have never even read about, let alone considered buying.

Here's a pair of outside-the-square buy recommendations:

The world is changing, once again

After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, that type of energy seemed to fall out of favour around the world. Germany, for example, accelerated its plans to shut down its nuclear power plants.

But now, 11 years later, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered a rethink.

Continental Europe, facing a dire energy shortage from rapidly reducing its dependence on Russian gas, is reconsidering the value of nuclear power.

"The political momentum towards uranium as a clean and reliable energy source, particularly in Europe, is gathering pace," Red Leaf Securities chief John Athanasiou told The Bull.

Therefore he recommends buying shares in uranium producer Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN).

"The uranium company owns a 75% stake in the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia. The share price is highly correlated to the uranium price."

The Motley Fool's Matthew Farley agreed that Paladin shares are a buy.

"I believe that we're in the very early stages of witnessing a revival of nuclear energy and that the potential of these shares hasn't yet been priced in by the market."

Athanasiou believes Paladin's valuation will rise with uranium demand.

"We expect increasing uranium prices to be reflected in an improving share price moving forward."

Nothing better than pricing power during rampant inflation

Disposable protective glove maker Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) probably underperformed during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering its huge business in healthcare supplies.

But Athanasiou reckons the stock price's primed for a revival in the face of tougher economic times.

"During inflation, companies with pricing power tend to outperform," he said.

"Ansell, a leading manufacturer of protective industrial and medical gloves, has been able to pass on increasing production costs without any material impact on demand."

The Ansell share price is down almost 20% so far this year.

But because of its pricing power over its products, Athanasiou is optimistic.

"We're expecting the share price to outperform."

Ansell is polarising in the wider professional community. According to CMC Markets, five out of 13 analysts currently rate it as a buy, while seven recommend the stock as a hold.

The post 2 ASX shares to buy that you haven't even thought about: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dumped early gains today to end the day in the red. The index closed 0.34% lower at 6,645 points.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was the market's biggest weigh, falling 1.6% amid lower oil prices. The Brent crude oil price fell 1.8%to US$96.19 a barrel while the US Nymex crude oil price dropped 1.6% to US$91.13 a barrel.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also slumped 0.1% following a rough night for the iron ore price. Iron ore futures fell 1.8% as most Australians slept to trade at US$97.35 a tonne. Meanwhile, gold futures dumped 2% to US$1,675.20 an ounce.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) slipped 0.03% and 0.16%, respectively, amid the latest Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) consumer sentiment data, finding the measure fell by 0.9% to a near historic low of 83.7 in October.

All in all, two of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed in the green today. But which share topped all its peers? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was none other than newbie Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG). The company was added to the index in the September rebalance.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price had a strong first quarter of the financial year and managed to clip a 30% gain in the process.

Shares in the uranium explorer are currently resting at 79.2 cents apiece during morning trade on Thursday, having whipsawed in a wide price range across the length of 2022.

As seen in the chart below, the share has rallied hard off 52-week lows back on 23 June.

What's next for the Paladin Energy share price?

Energy shares continue to catch a strong bid in the second half of 2022.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) has returned around 37% this year to date, having bounced off a sharp low in September.

Paladin's key market, uranium, has pushed higher over the past 12 months and gained 18% in that time.

While there's been some volatility in pricing, the metal used in nuclear energy has shown a gradual climb upwards this year.

The price swings have been important for the growth in the Paladin share price, seeing as the company is a price taker on uranium.

As seen in the chart below, there's been somewhat of a similarity in movements between the pair over the past 12 months to date.

This is important for projections for Paladin moving forward. For instance, four out of five analysts covering the share rate it a buy right now, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.

Meanwhile, forward contracts on uranium for physical delivery have priced uranium at US$49 per pound for February 2023, and US$50 per pound in March 2023.

At present, it trades at US$49.25 per pound. Furthermore, given Paladin's lack of profitable earnings at present, valuation is increasingly difficult.

The company does, however, trade on a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 3.98 times, roughly in-line with the GICS Metals & Mining Industry's median of 4.09 times.

It is also estimated by analysts to deliver a 0.26% forward dividend yield, per Refinitiv.

Alas, it remains predominantly a uranium story for Paladin, seconded by the market's breadth of investment into growth-type shares with no profits.

Meantime, the Paladin Energy share price has climbed 12% in the past 12 months.

The post The Paladin Energy share price soared 30% in the first quarter. What's next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Feeling spooked by September's share market tricks?

As Halloween draws near, we asked our Foolish contributors to compile a list of some of the ASX shares they reckon are not so scary in October. Here's what they came up with.

5 best ASX shares for October 2022 (smallest to largest)

• Objective Corporation Limited (ASX: OCL), $1.25 billion
• Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG), $1.66 billion
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), $2.23 billion
• New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC), $5.24 billion
• Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), $48.44 billion

(Market capitalisations as of 30 September 2022)

Why our Foolish writers love these ASX shares

Objective Corporation Limited

What it does: Objective Corp may not be a household name, but the company is well established with customers across local government, the public sector, regulators, and other significant institutions. It offers a suite of software solutions, including enterprise content management, information governance, file collaboration, and regulation management. 

By Mitchell Lawler: I previously wrote about Objective Corp last month, where I compared the software company to its larger peer, Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE). Both companies are similar in what they offer. However, Objective Corp is roughly one-third the size – in terms of market capitalisation and revenue. 

At first glance, this minnow of the ASX tech sector appears to be richly valued. The company currently trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 64 times. Yet, I believe the premium is warranted given the profitability, growth potential, and impeccable balance sheet on offer. 

The Objective share price is down nearly 35% in 2022. This pullback in valuation means this ASX share is now on my radar.

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler does not own shares of Objective Corporation Limited.

Johns Lyng Group Ltd

What it does: Johns Lyng Group is an Aussie building services company with a focus on insurance and restoration work, as well as commercial building and construction.

By Brooke Cooper. Johns Lyng Group has been on a roll. It was added to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) just weeks after it posted a 40% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) for the financial year 2022, coming in at $38.5 million.

And it doesn't expect to slow down. The company forecasts its earnings will grow as much as 26% in financial year 2023.

Despite such positive momentum, the stock has tumbled 31% year to date to trade at $6.28 at the close of trade on Friday. Fortunately, Goldman Sachs has tipped that to change.

The broker has slapped Johns Lyngs shares with a $10.20 price target and a buy rating, noting the company's guidance appears conservative.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper does not own shares in Johns Lyng Group Ltd.

Paladin Energy Ltd

What it does: Paladin Energy is a uranium miner and exploration company with operations in Australia and Africa.

By Matthew Farley. I believe that we're in the very early stages of witnessing a revival of nuclear energy and that the potential of these shares hasn't yet been priced in by the market.

The energy crisis in Europe and the rising urgency to reduce emissions have catalysed change, along with the development of miniaturised nuclear reactors. Countries such as Japan, China, France, India, and the United States all have ambitions to harness more nuclear energy in the future.

Paladin also grew its revenues substantially last financial year and reduced its statutory net loss after tax by 39%. The demand for uranium is set to increase exponentially, too, with a mean price of the commodity expected to reach US$65/LBS in 2023, up from US$51.04/LBS at the time of writing, according to Trading Economics.

Motley Fool contributor Matthew Farley does not own shares in Paladin Energy Ltd.

New Hope Corporation Limited 

What it does: New Hope is a diversified company that generates the lion's share of its income from thermal coal exploration and production. Most of that production is sold into the seaborne thermal coal export markets.

By Bernd Struben. New Hope shares have benefited from rocketing energy prices. In early January, thermal coal was trading for US$160 per tonne. Prices reached record highs of US$460 per tonne earlier in September and are currently around US$438 per tonne.

This helped New Hope deliver $2.6 billion in revenue in FY22, up 144% year on year. NPAT rocketed 1,139% from FY21 to $983 million. And shareholders were rewarded with a 700% increase in the final dividend payout.

While that's water under the bridge, I believe the world is nowhere near the end of the energy crisis, as witnessed by the recent explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipeline. With Europe weaning itself off Russian oil and gas, demand for thermal coal is likely to keep prices high in the months ahead.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares in New Hope Corporation Limited.

Wesfarmers Ltd

What it does: Wesfarmers is a major retail conglomerate with businesses across a number of different sectors. These include national brand names Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Target, Catch and Priceline, as well as operations in chemicals, energy and fertilisers (WesCEF).

By Tristan Harrison. In this volatile environment, plenty of ASX shares have been sold down, including Wesfarmers. Shares in the company were swapping hands for $42.72 at Friday's close. That's down almost 28% in 2022.

I think this lower price for Wesfarmers is attractive. It's now valued at around 20x FY23's estimated earnings, according to CMC Markets.

Bunnings continues to earn a high return on capital for Wesfarmers, which I like a lot. The company's new health division also has a compelling long-term future, and the WesCEF division is doing really well in the current economic climate.

I appreciate the dividends Wesfarmers pays its shareholders and I like that it can add diversification by investing in other sectors, like lithium.

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of Wesfarmers Ltd.

The post Top ASX shares to buy in October 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) posted its best day in weeks on Thursday, with all 11 sectors closing in the green. The index was 1.44% higher at 6,555 points as of market close.

It followed a strong session on Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI), S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), and Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) lifted 1.9%, 2%, and 2.05% respectively on Wednesday amid news the United Kingdom's central bank has stepped in to help stabilise the nation's economy, as the Guardian reports.

Back home, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) led the way, gaining 2.8% today following a good night for oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price lifted 3.5% to US$89.32 a barrel, while the US Nymex crude oil price gained 4.6% to US$82.15 a barrel.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also performed well, rising 2.2% despite lower iron ore prices.

Iron ore futures slipped 0.2% to US$98.52 a tonne overnight, while gold futures lifted 2.1% to US$1,670 an ounce.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) brought up the rear, gaining just 0.04% and 0.02%, respectively, despite AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)'s pledge to ditch coal by 2035.

So, which ASX 200 share outperformed amid a sea of green on Thursday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing stock on the index was Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV).

The operator of fashion chains posted its full-year earnings this morning, revealing record profits despite many of its businesses having faced COVID-19 closures.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price has soared in the past month. But could it go even higher?

Paladin shares have leapt 14.7% since market close on 23 August and are currently trading at 78 cents. In today's trade, the Paladin share price is down 7.14%. Industrial action in France is disrupting nuclear power generation, according to Reuters.

Let's take a look at the outlook for the Paladin Energy share price.

What's going on?

Paladin is a uranium explorer and producer with a 75% stake in the Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia.

The company's share price has risen in the past month amid the global energy crisis.

Analysts at Macquarie have recently tipped the Paladin Energy share price to rise and have a $1.10 price target on the company. This is a 41% upside on the current share price.

The broker likes Paladin since it has a "near-term path to market" and is "fully licensed in known uranium jurisdictions".

Meanwhile, news that multiple nations are planning to restart nuclear reactors could also help the Paladin share price. Uranium is a fuel for nuclear power reactors.

For example, Japan is planning to revamp seven nuclear reactors by the northern hemisphere summer next year. This follows Japan closing down nuclear plants after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Germany and Belgium are also looking to keep their nuclear power plants open for longer. The Philippines is also looking into setting up modular nuclear power plants, according to a news report today.

A new United Nations report released this week has recommended the UNECE region "scale up electrification of all sectors with emphasis on renewable energy and nuclear power" to achieve carbon neutrality. The report states:

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, renewable energy supply will grow fastest, followed by nuclear power. All technology solutions leading to carbon neutrality need to be supported.

Paladin Energy share price snapshot

Paladin shares have fallen 8% in the past year, while they have lost 11% year to date.

For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) has gained 30% in the past 12 months and around 32% year to date.

Paladin has a market capitalisation of nearly $2.3 billion based on the current share price.

The post Up 14% in a month, could the Paladin Energy share price go higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.