Coming in third was buy now, pay later juggernaut Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP), which is on track to be one of the best performing ASX shares of the year following a near 400% share price gain in the year to date.

Another interesting trend last month was a strong buying conviction for beaten-down supermarket stock, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

The Woolworths share price has fallen to a four-year low amid industrial action and an ACCC inquiry into the pricing practices of Woollies and other supermarkets, including Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Selfwealth analysts said:

Despite these headwinds, Selfwealth investors were bullish towards WOW.

Ranking 12th for trade volumes across all ASX names, more than three-quarters of all trades were 'buys' – the highest sentiment across any name in the top 20.

As we have seen on numerous occasions across the Selfwealth community, investors showed strong conviction in a company that has been sold down sharply.

Let's check out the other top 10 most traded ASX shares last month.

ASX shares at the top of the list in November

These are the top 10 most traded ASX shares in November by volume, incorporating both buying and selling orders.

The percentage of buy orders gives an indication of investors' conviction on each ASX share.

Top 10 most traded US stocks in November

Chip maker NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) was the most traded US share for a third month.

The Nvidia share price lifted by 4.14% in November.

Selfwealth analysts said:

Chip stocks once again made an impression among the Selfwealth community, with industry leader Nvidia well out in front in terms of trade volumes.

Furthermore, buying sentiment improved by 8.9 percentage points, with more than seven out of every ten trades being 'buys.  

Here are the other top 10 most traded US stocks in November among Selfwealth investors.

The post Here are the 10 most traded ASX shares and US stocks in November appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We won't officially be in a recession until the National Bureau of Economic Research says so. However, you can nearly throw a rock in any direction and find an economist who thinks a recession is probably on the way.

For example, Johns Hopkins economics professor Steve Hanke stated a month ago that he believes there's at least an 80% chance of a recession. Non-profit research group The Conference Board recently pegged the probability at 96%. The latest Bloomberg economic model projects a 100% chance of a recession by October 2023. 

These forecasts don't guarantee that a recession is coming. But it's possible that the current bear market will continue for a while longer. That doesn't mean that every stock will be a big loser, though. Which stocks are most likely to thrive in a recession? Here's what history shows.

Some bad news

The SPDR Select Sector exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are good proxies for gauging how different sectors perform during recessions. One primary downside of using them is that most of these ETFs have only been around since the late 1990s. However, the U.S. has experienced three recessions during that period, so the SPDR Select Sector ETFs should be able to help in determining which stocks historically thrive in a recession.   

I've got some bad news, though. None of the SPDR Select Sector ETFs performed well in all three recessions that occurred over the past 25 years. 

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEMKT: XLP) held up well during the recession of 2001. However, it still slid a little. The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT: XLB) performed similarly during the first recession of this century. (The shaded area in the charts below indicates the period when the U.S. economy was in recession.)

XLP data by YCharts

However, both of these ETFs plunged during the Great Recession that began in late 2007 and went through mid-2009. So did every other sector ETF -- including (perhaps surprisingly) the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEMKT: XLU). 

XLP data by YCharts

All of the sector ETFs also tanked during the brief coronavirus-fueled recession of 2020. However, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund didn't fall nearly as much as the others did.

Looking for exceptions

The cold, hard truth is that no category of stocks thrives in all recessions. But it's clear from examining the past that consumer staples stocks tend to perform better than most. Your best bet, though, is to look for exceptions. I'm referring to stocks that have factors working to their advantage so much that investors want to buy them even when the overall economy stinks.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) stood out as this kind of stock during the recession of 2001. The healthcare giant continued to deliver revenue and earnings growth throughout the period. It completed the $10.5 billion acquisition of ALZA Corporation. The blue-chip stock was also viewed as a safe haven for investors worried about the dot-com bubble bursting.

JNJ data by YCharts

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) performed exceptionally well during the Great Recession, especially considering how most stocks plunged. Investors realized that the serious economic downturn would mean that consumers would have to tighten their purse strings. That worked to the advantage of the big discount retailer.

WMT data by YCharts

Moderna's (NASDAQ: MRNA) share price skyrocketed during the quick recession of 2020. That's not surprising. The company was one of the early leaders in developing coronavirus vaccines. Moderna was a natural choice for investors to flock to during the uncertain times at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MRNA data by YCharts

Likely outliers in the next recession

Which stocks might be outliers in the next recession, assuming it isn't too far off? I think we can learn from history. 

Walmart could again defy gravity if the U.S. economy enters into a recession. My view is that another discount retailer, Dollar General (NYSE: DG), should do so as well.

Dollar General is outperforming Walmart so far this year. The company continues to build new stores. It's also expanding its frozen and refrigerated goods offerings. Dollar General should benefit as consumers increasingly try to stretch their dollars.

Just as Johnson & Johnson and Moderna performed well during two previous recessions, I suspect another drug stock will do so during the next recession -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX). Vertex's revenue and earnings will almost certainly grow robustly even amid an economic downturn. 

The big biotech also has a pipeline with multiple potential blockbusters likely on the way. Vertex expects to file for regulatory approvals for one of them (gene-editing therapy exa-cel) before year-end. With fears of a recession increasing, I think that Vertex is arguably the best stock to buy right now.  

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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A lot has changed in the past year in the stock market as growth stocks have been crashing hard, with the Nasdaq dropping by 15%. Even the more stable S&P 500 has fallen 6%. Concerns about inflation and a possible recession are weighing on investors.

But despite these fears, many investors are still making potentially costly mistakes by focusing on current trends and hopping on stocks that simply aren't good buys. Here's what I mean.

Investors are taking on too much risk

Billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have compared the markets to a gambling parlor. This could explain why a struggling retailer like Bed Bath & Beyond, which has incurred losses of more than $866 million over the trailing 12 months, can skyrocket more than 45% within a single trading session as it did last week.

Another example of that gambler mentality is the desire to invest in companies that have monkeypox treatments or vaccines. Shares of SIGA Technologies, which makes a monkeypox treatment, have jumped close to 260% in just the past six months. Bavarian Nordic is up 64% during that period as investors are hopeful about its monkeypox vaccine. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has declined 4% over that stretch.

While some investors are earning quick profits on this short-term trading, buying at the wrong time could lead to significant losses. There's also the danger of hanging on too long with these types of stocks.

What's hot today could be a dud next year

If you end up buying a stock based on a short-term trend, the risk is that when the frenzy calms down, you could be left holding the bag, with an investment that doesn't look nearly as exciting as it once did.

COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) is a good example. Last year, its stock price jumped 143% as rising COVID case numbers made the healthcare stock a hot buy. This year, the company expects to generate $21 billion in revenue from its vaccine.

But beyond that, there are big question marks surrounding the business. Moderna's focus on COVID has resulted in a lack of diversification for the company, and that has made investors wary of the stock. It's down 40% year to date.

It's a similar story for rival COVID vaccine maker Novavax, which in 2020 jumped by a whopping 2,700%. But with its COVID vaccine not obtaining Emergency Use Authorization until just last month and the company slashing its sales forecast for 2022 in half, its shares are down 75% this year.

Investors shouldn't overlook fundamentals

The key takeaway for investors is to focus on long-term trends and a company's business prospects beyond just the short term. While SIGA Technologies might be a hot buy this year, it could give back many of its gains if monkeypox cases subside and the disease doesn't derail the global economy the way COVID has over the past few years.

More stable healthcare stocks, such as Merck and AbbVie, have proved to be sound investments and have outperformed the markets this year, with returns of 19% and 4%, respectively. Although they might not generate sky-high returns in the short term, they also won't jeopardize your savings and put your portfolio at great risk.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post 1 bear market blunder investors are still making appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But the company's coronavirus vaccine is still selling heavily, and it's developing updated jabs to ensure it has something effective to sell for the rest of the year and beyond. On July 29, it announced that the U.S. government had placed a purchase order for more than $1.7 billion to secure the updated shots. And it's still expecting to make around $21 billion in sales this year. Per its earnings report on August 3, that expectation looks to be fully within reach and likely to be realized.

Brace yourself, because your resolve to hold onto your stocks could get tested big time, and soon. With the S&P 500 Index dipping as low as 23% within the past couple of months, we've hit the ballpark of bear market territory. The index currently hovers around a 12% drop year to date, but there could be more pain on the horizon. 

If you sell your shares, you won't get the advantage of the market's eventual recovery, so you'll need to buckle down and prepare yourself to hold out. Let's learn about three of the most common ways that bear markets create the very powerful temptation to sell so that you can resist the temptation when it calls.

1. Destroying some of the market's recent winners

The most visible way that the bear market is likely to test investors' resolve is by demolishing the stocks of companies that were not too long ago put forward as high-flying success stories. Take Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), for example. Its shares are down by 53.6% over the last 12 months, despite a powerful return of more than 1,430% over the last three years.

Bear markets tend to be characterized by an all-consuming swamp of pessimism. You've probably already seen the headlines flying around. Gas prices are still high, and everything is getting more expensive. There's an ongoing parade of economists, portfolio managers, and famous investors predicting that everything is bound to get worse in the market and elsewhere. And there's endless speculation about how the Federal Reserve's rate hiking policy is bound to crater your retirement account. 

In other words, there's not much reason to suspect that the investment thesis for buying Moderna has changed by much between the start of the bear market and now. Even so, seeing its share price in the dumps is likely to make many investors question whether they should be thinking about selling. Further losses are all but guaranteed to have an even more intense effect. Inevitably, many investors will sell, and they might be missing out on significant future growth in the process. 

2. Barraging investors with bad news

If you read the above and are now wondering whether it's worth pulling your money out of the market entirely and waiting for conditions to improve, your resolve is being tested, and you should take a step back and think for a minute. For many companies, the negative headlines about the market or the economy simply aren't relevant to their ability to generate revenue and compete effectively. For others, external events do indeed matter, but it's still entirely possible that the market overreacts when it comes to adjusting share prices in response. 

In Moderna's case, there's not much in the way of ongoing relevant macroeconomic or geopolitical events that would affect its operations. It doesn't sell jabs to people directly, so trends like inflation leading to consumer wallets being under pressure don't matter. Likewise, it isn't directly subjected to rising costs from the prices of major commodities going haywire, like lumber or oil. Management is overtly optimistic about the coming quarters, even when taking the economy's issues into account.

Nor are the very general predictions of market observers likely to appreciate the unique tailwinds that it has over the next five years and beyond -- for example, its ability to rapidly develop and manufacture updated vaccines in response to viral variants.

That won't stop the bear market from peppering investors with gloom and doom about the economy and its effect on businesses, though. Tuning out the noise is a great way to keep your resolve intact.

Take the current narrative about rising interest rates being a death knell for investing in growth stocks as an example. The argument is that higher borrowing costs will make it much harder to grow. Now, think about Moderna, a company that in 2021 had free cash flow (FCF) of more than $13.3 billion, operating expenses of around $2.5 billion, and in the most recent quarter reported cash holdings of around $18 billion. It isn't a business that'll need to borrow money anytime soon.

3. Creating narratives that imply old investing rules and strategies no longer apply

Along with the regular flow of negative news, bear markets often see new and convincing narratives that explain how things in the market have changed such that investors who refuse to update their approach will be imminently devastated. It's true that successful short-term strategies need to adapt to shifting conditions. But if you're investing mostly for the long term (and you should be), the chances are very good that simply holding onto your shares is a better option than adopting a radically different approach. 

So don't get rattled by the narratives. Think about whether your original investing thesis for the stock is still true, and hang onto your shares even when the bear market is trying to tell you that it isn't a good idea.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Boy, the good volatility sure is nice. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC)  is up 329 points, or 2.7%, as of 2:34 p.m. ET on Aug. 3, 2022. Some of the biggest Nasdaq gainers include Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) and PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL), both up after reporting earnings, and MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI), ahead of earnings.

Shares of Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA) are on the rise, as well, after a competitor was acquired at a nice premium. Shares of social media giant Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) are up 5%, finally starting to reverse some of the losses of the past year following its relatively solid earnings results a few days ago. 

Upbeat earnings, high hopes leading to today's bounce

Both biotech-giant Moderna and payments-king PayPal reported second-quarter results before trading today. Moderna investors loved the 7% revenue growth and were happy with the $5.24 earnings per share that smoked expectations. In short, shareholders (and buyers) continue to have high expectations for the company.

However, it's not all roses (and COVID-19 booster shots). The company took a $499 million write-down for expired vaccine inventory -- more than double the amount in the first quarter -- and COVID-19 booster-shot volume and revenue has slowed. Moderna's biggest unanswered question: What is its next act if COVID-19 vaccines aren't the same cash cow in the coming years?

PayPal similarly reported better-than expected second-quarter results, with 13% payment volume pushing revenue up 10%, adjusting for currency exchange. While the company reported much slower growth than it has experienced over the past few years, double-digit growth in an environment where people are returning to more in-person shopping is a very real positive. CEO Dan Schulman pointed out that the company's investment in digital wallets and online-checkout solutions is paying off with increased market share. 

Shares of Latin American e-commerce and payments-giant MercadoLibre are also rocketing higher today, ahead of the company's earnings report, which is scheduled after market close on Wednesday. Like other e-commerce and web-based companies over the past year, its stock has been pummeled. PayPal and Amazon both turned in results investors liked this week, and it seems like investors have high hopes for MercadoLibre, too. 

Okta gets a buyout premium

Cybersecurity is one of the hottest segments out there right now. Billions of dollars will flow into the sector from corporate budgets in the years to come as companies take steps to protect their data and infrastructure from bad actors.

Private-equity firm Thoma Bravo certainly sees the potential. Today's deal for it to buy Ping Identity (NYSE: PING) for a 63% premium to its prior share price is strong evidence of that. 

Investors also seem to believe that Okta, a leader in identity verification and access management, might very well be worth a good bit more than Mr. Market has been valuing it lately. 

Has Meta finally bottomed?

Meta Platforms investors may have finally seen peak pessimism pass. The shares are still down more than half from the company's all-time high. This occurred after it reported that second-quarter revenue fell, which was the first revenue decline in the company's history as a public company.

Since then, however, it seems that investors have processed the results and realized that active users grew on all its social media platforms and ad volume was up by double digits. In other words, the company's biggest challenge right now seems to be weak ad demand overall, and that's pulling down prices. This is a cyclical, temporary concern and maybe not as big a problem as it has seemed.

Despite its challenges, Meta remains head and shoulders above every other social media company as an ad platform. At 14 times trailing earnings and 17 times expected forward earnings, Meta's shares are getting very attractive, and today's upwards movement supports that. 

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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While the ASX 200 is up a healthy 0.4% in late morning trade, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) – which contains some smaller tech shares outside of the ASX 200 – is up an impressive 2.41%.

Australia's big tech stocks are broadly charging higher following a strong lead from US technology companies yesterday (overnight Aussie time).

What happened with US tech stocks?

Yesterday saw some more strong earnings results from some of the biggest US tech stocks.

Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) closed 16% higher on the back of its earnings report.

And PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: PYPL) leapt 9.3% on the back of its results.

Along with some other strong performers, this saw the tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 close up 2.7%, reaching its highest level since 4 May.

Commenting on the strength of the US reporting season, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Art Hogan said (courtesy of Bloomberg), "Now that we're 70% through the earnings reporting season, we can clearly say that it's not the earnings Armageddon that many had feared. That's important."

And that strength looks to be offering some helpful tailwinds for ASX 200 tech shares today.

ASX 200 tech shares leaping higher

It's a sea of green among the ASX 200 tech shares.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) price is up 1% at the time of writing, having earlier posted gains of 3.4%.

Shares in the online accounting and business services closed at $96.90 yesterday and are currently trading for $97.85.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) is also enjoying a healthy boost today. Though like Xero, it's given back much of its early morning gains.

After leaping 4.2% higher earlier today, shares in the global logistics software solutions provider are up 1.22% at the time of writing.

As for Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT), the data centre operator is up 1.69%.

The biggest gains among the ASX 200 tech shares today are being realised by Block Inc (ASX: SQ2), owner of Afterpay.

The Block share price is up a whopping 9.69% at the time of writing, currently trading for $127.00 per share.

This comes after a stellar run for Block's US-listed shares, which closed up 11.4% on the NYSE yesterday.

The post Why are ASX 200 tech shares having such a stellar run today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Equity markets have been southbound for a while now, and last month, the S&P 500 officially dropped below bear market territory as defined by a 20% or more decline from its most recent high. Even the most battle-tested investors can panic in situations like these; it's only human to do so. 

That's especially the case considering the state of the economy. Some analysts have predicted that a recession could be on its way, and with inflation at 40-year highs, things could get even worse for the stock market. With that said, there are important missteps investors should avoid in a bear market. Here are just two examples.

Mistake #1: Constantly checking your portfolio

When stocks are struggling, it can be tempting for investors to constantly check how the performance of their portfolios stacks up against that of the broader market -- or if, by any chance, they are managing to defy the sell-off. The temptation is understandable but a bit unwise. In a bear market, most investors will be in the red. But until one presses the sell button, losses remain unrealized.

Peeking into the performance of the stocks you own regularly can increase anxiety and provoke panic-selling. Of course, that would be a mistake for investors with a long-term mindset. The market will recover -- history tells us that it always does. And provided the stocks you own are those of quality companies, they will bounce back too. Staying the course is generally the correct thing to do.

Not being obsessed with how your portfolio performs helps you do just that. 

Mistake #2: Avoiding buying stocks 

For opportunistic investors, downturns are practically the stock market equivalents of a "sale" sign on the window of a retail store. Sell-offs don't discriminate. Even robust companies find themselves in the red, creating the perfect opportunity for you to scoop them up on the dip.

Of course, investing best practices still apply. It's essential only to invest money that you can afford to lose, particularly if the downturn in question is accompanied by economic troubles (as we are currently experiencing).

Furthermore, just because a stock is down doesn't mean it's worth buying at its current levels. Doing your due diligence before pressing the buy button is always critical. But if you play your cards right, bear markets can help you increase your returns in the long run.

With that in mind, here's one beaten-down stock worth buying now: Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA). The biotech is down big this year, but it is well-positioned to rebound eventually. Here's why. 

Down but not out

One reason Moderna is down recently -- besides the broader sell-off -- is that its prospects seem uncertain to some investors. What will the COVID-19 vaccine market look like after this year? Will Moderna continue to generate strong sales from its sole product on the market in 2023 and beyond?

These are reasonable questions, but Moderna seems to have the means to bounce back from a potential drop in sales of its coronavirus vaccine after this year. The company has a pipeline full of promising programs and enough funds to bring at least a couple of brand new products to market (without resorting to dilutive financing) -- two key things biotech companies need to be successful.

Moderna is running several non-coronavirus-related phase 3 clinical trials, including a potential vaccine against the flu and two others against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and the cytomegalovirus, neither of which has an existing, approved vaccine. Additionally, it has plenty more programs in phase 2 or phase 1 testing.

The biotech ended the first quarter with $19.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents, more than double the $8.3 billion it had as of the end of Q1 of the previous fiscal year. Moderna's shares have lost 35% of their value this year. But I believe patience will be rewarded for those who get in now. 

Play the long game 

Bear markets aren't fun, but investors can make the best of them by avoiding the unnecessary stress of constantly checking stocks and taking advantage of the opportunity to buy great stocks like Moderna or many other companies that fell along with the rest of the market. Trading may be a short-term game, but investing is a long-term one. Focusing on that can help investors get through these challenging times.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post 2 mistakes to avoid in a bear market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Prior to the pandemic, Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) was like many other small biotechs. It had a promising technology that had yet to be proven, and no products available commercially. In fact, for the full year of 2019, Moderna had only $60 million in revenue, entirely from collaborations and grants, and it posted a net loss of $514 million. While this is not uncommon for biotechs, it's a stark contrast to what was to come. 

As we know, Moderna's ability to rapidly produce a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus changed the financial prospects for the company and put it in a completely different position today. In the most recent quarter, Q1 of 2022, Moderna's revenue was $6.1 billion and net income was $3.7 billion. That's a far cry from the full-year results of just a few years ago.

But the past is the past, and what matters is what happens next. Here are three things about Moderna that smart investors know.

1. COVID-19 revenue will decrease but remain

As much as I wish it were not the case, it appears that Moderna will see COVID-related revenue for the foreseeable future. The most immediate catalyst is the recently received Emergency Use Authorization for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months of age and older. This was the last age group in the U.S. to receive approval to be vaccinated and should help sustain COVID-related revenues for Moderna.

When you consider the global vaccine demand, as well as the need for boosters and possibly new vaccines to combat future variants, there's still a large market for sales worldwide. In Q1, Moderna reported it had approximately $21 billion in advanced purchase agreements for 2022. The company also believes that sales in the second half of 2022 will be slightly higher than in the first half. This revenue is a far cry from the pandemic highs, but it won't decrease to zero anytime soon.

2. There's more in the pipeline

While Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines get the headlines, there are another 46 development programs in the company's pipeline. Of these programs, Moderna has three programs in phase 3 trials. One program is its COVID-19 boosters, but there are also vaccines for two other viruses nearing their trial endpoints.

Respiratory syncytial virus is one of the leading causes of severe respiratory illness in older adults as well as younger children. The vaccine for older adults is currently in phase 3 trials, and the vaccine for children is in phase 1. A vaccine for cytomegalovirus, the leading cause of birth defects in the U.S., is also undergoing phase 3 trials.

By the end of Q2, Moderna hopes to add an Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster as well as a flu vaccine to its list of programs in phase 3 trials. 

There's no guarantee that any of these programs will reach commercial sales, but with dozens more products in the pipeline at various stages, it would be reasonable to invest with the expectation that Moderna is able to bring additional products to market.

3. The current valuation is a double-edged sword

It's clear that the market has priced in the uncertainty around Moderna's ability to bring future products to market. At the time of this writing, Moderna has a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.3, near its all-time low of 3.4. This is for good reason. While COVID-19 revenue is likely to remain, it won't return to its peak levels, and even if all the programs in phase 3 trials come to market, the revenue won't replace what's lost in COVID-19 sales. 

That said, the COVID-19 vaccines have shown that mRNA technology can be successful, and the revenue generated over the past few years has put Moderna in a much better position to finance the development of future products. There's risk in buying shares, but there's also reward if Moderna can replicate its past success with future vaccines.

The bottom line for investors

Whether or not to buy shares depends on each investor's risk tolerance and investing timeline. There's reason to believe that over the long term, Moderna can grow to be a mainstay in the biotech space. As biotech investments go, there are certainly more risky investments out there. If Moderna is able to bring more and more products to market over the coming years and decades, it has the chance to be a smart investment for shareholders.

I think Moderna provides a nice balance of risk/reward because the valuation is such that investors don't need a COVID-like pop for the investment to be successful. However, investors who buy shares expecting another short-term run-up like we've seen over the past few years are likely to be disappointed. 

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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When the stock market is soaring, it's easy to get into the buying mood. That's because we actually see investments bearing fruit right away. Even if some share prices are high, the sheer momentum of the whole market offers us confidence that those prices could climb even higher.

But when the stock market stumbles, our eagerness to get in on the action may disappear -- and quickly. All at once we ask ourselves how long the downturn will last. We even might doubt the recovery of certain stocks that, in better market conditions, seemed like sure winners.

This scenario is probably playing out for a lot of us right now. The S&P 500 Index slipped into a bear market this week, inflation has been galloping higher, and interest rates are on the rise around the world. Now the question is: Should you really buy stocks right now? Or is it best to wait a while longer? Let's find out.

The advantages of buying now

First, let's talk about the advantages of buying stocks now. A huge one is valuation. Many solid stocks have dropped to incredibly low levels. I'm talking bargain basement.

For example, high-growth electric-vehicle maker Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is trading at 56 times forward earnings estimates -- down from more than 160 just six months ago. That's as measures like return on invested capital and free cash flow are climbing.

TSLA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts.

Another example is coronavirus vaccine giant Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA). The company continues to bring in billions in revenue and profit, and today it's trading at only 4.6 times forward earnings estimates. That's down from more than 16 a year ago.

There are plenty of other examples across industries. Today, those stocks that were trading at much higher valuations a short time ago now are available at very reasonable prices.

Another reason to buy now is you avoid the risk of missing out on the eventual rebound. History tells us markets always bounce back. It's just a question of time. So your favorite players could rise at any moment.

Now let's talk about the one big disadvantage of buying stocks today -- and that's the risk that the market may fall even more. You might be able to get that stock you're interested in for an even lower valuation.

And what if stocks remain at this undervalued level for a while? Then you'll really have to wait to benefit from your investment. This is the reason some investors are hesitating to buy stocks right now.

The importance of long-term investing

Considering these points, what should you do? First, it's important to note that you only should buy stocks right now if you plan on investing for the long term. By this, I mean at least five years.

This doesn't mean the downturn will last this long. This is the time horizon I always favor. That's because it gives a company time to recover -- if it happens to go through challenging times such as a period of high inflation. And it gives a company time to grow -- no matter what the economic situation.

As always, it's important to invest what you can afford to invest. That means you should also set aside funds for use in an emergency -- so you don't have to dip into your investments.

As for buying stocks, here's what I say: When you feel that a company's business is strong, future prospects are bright, and the price is fair, it's probably time to get in on that story. So right now could be the perfect time to buy certain stocks.

As mentioned above, share prices could decline further. It's nearly impossible to grab a stock at its lowest price. But if you invest for the long term, that won't really matter. You'll still benefit from your favorite stock's recovery -- and growth in the years to come.

All of this means we shouldn't fear bear markets. And any day can be the right moment to invest.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Should you really buy stocks now or wait a while longer? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What's more, we got the news today that the Federal Government and the Victorian Government has partnered up with Moderna to build the first mRNA vaccine manufacturing hub in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to reporting from the ABC, the two governments will provide support for Moderna to construct a manufacturing facility in Victoria. The exact location is yet to be determined. According to the report, all parties are hoping that the new plant will produce its first vaccines "sometime in 2024". But the facility will not be restricted to just COVID vaccines. There are "plans to develop a number of other respiratory treatments and vaccines" too. These are likely to include influenza (the flu) and respiratory syncytial virus.

So now Moderna is set to have such a strong presence in Australia, many investors might be hoping to get a piece of the action in their own portfolios. So is Moderna an ASX listed share?

Are Moderna shares on the ASX?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Moderna is indeed a public company. But it is an American one through and through, having been founded in Massachusetts in 2010. As such, Moderna shares are listed on the US markets. Specifically, the company is on the Nasdaq exchange. Its full name is Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA). That's a highly applicable ticker code if there ever was one.

So unfortunately for ASX investors, we can't buy Moderna shares directly on the ASX. If you wanted to buy the company's shares, you would need to do so by buying the US-listed shares through a supporting broker.

Alternatively, Moderna is a constituent of both the S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP: .INX) and the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX). Both of these indexes have ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track them. So that is another avenue to explore for any aspiring Moderna investors.

But, as is the case with many global companies, there just isn't a direct ASX listing for us Aussies to go with.

The Moderna share price is currently up by 35.8% over the past 12 months, although it has taken a 24% haircut in 2022 so far. At the last Moderna share price of US$178.73, the company had a market capitalisation of US$72.03 billion.

The post Is Moderna listed on the ASX? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors are getting hit on all sides by news that raises big concerns, and stocks haven't been able to inspire much confidence from traders on Wall Street.

The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: .IXIC) is now back to being down more than 20% from its highs, with a drop of more than 2% at 1.45pm ET that shows just how little conviction many investors have in high-growth stocks right now.

However, some stocks in the Nasdaq managed to hold up well even in Monday's decline. Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) was once again a beneficiary of troubling news on the health front, this time from China. Meanwhile, investors continued to look for safe havens, and that helped consumer products giant PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) maintain a modest gain Monday afternoon.

China's COVID-19 cases boost vaccine stocks

Shares of Moderna were up more than 11% on Monday afternoon. The vaccine maker wasn't alone, with BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) seeing gains of more than 12%.

The news that was behind the upward move for vaccine stocks came from China, where an outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has prompted government officials to impose new lockdown measures and travel restrictions. More than 1,300 cases have appeared, with the majority coming from the northeastern province of Jilin. In addition, the city of Shenzhen has seen new cases, prompting a lockdown of the city. Even though the number of cases is relatively small, China has been adamant in following its zero-COVID policy.

Even more troubling is the fact that many of these cases involve a new subvariant of Omicron that shows signs of being more transmissible and more harmful for those who become infected. It's unknown how well Moderna and BioNTech's vaccines will protect against this "stealth Omicron" variant, but investors believe the companies can work to potentially refine their vaccines over time.

Meanwhile, Moderna announced a study with the goal of making a vaccine to protect people against HIV. Such a breakthrough would show that Moderna isn't a one-trick pony and prove once and for all the efficacy of its mRNA technology.

Pepsi is fizzing higher

Elsewhere, shares of PepsiCo were up a more modest 2%. The soft drink and snack foods manufacturer has traditionally had some defensive characteristics that make it an attractive investment for those seeking shelter from tough market environments.

PepsiCo has become a staple for millions of consumers around the world, and its brand name strength gives it a competitive advantage over many smaller companies in the food and beverage space. With many consumers devoted to its brands, PepsiCo is better able to pass on any cost increases in the ingredients that go into its products. That helps PepsiCo sustain its profit margin even when rival companies have to suffer declining earnings.

Dividend investors also appreciate PepsiCo. The stock yields 2.8% currently, and the company has an impressive streak of consistently boosting the amount of its quarterly dividend payments that dates back decades.

Perhaps best of all, PepsiCo hasn't been afraid to set trends rather than react to them. When consumers started demanding healthier options, PepsiCo was among the first major companies to respond aggressively by moving away from sugary soft drinks toward carbonated water and other now-popular beverage alternatives. Similar moves on the snack side of the business have built up even more loyalty for the company.

As inflation hits hard, PepsiCo is in a better position than most to avoid the brunt of higher prices. Stock investors appreciate that kind of protection now more than ever.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post 2 Nasdaq stocks bucking Monday's market drop appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Moderna has been one of this year's stock market stars. The biotech company has been on everyone's radar screen as it commercialized its coronavirus vaccine and generated billions of dollars in revenue and profit. It's a story of a small player reaching the major leagues.

And in 2022, there's a cryptocurrency that may follow a similar path. It may progress from being a new hopeful to a crypto that's proven itself. I'm talking about Solana (CRYPTO: SOL). The platform launched in the spring of 2020 and has been gaining ground ever since.

Starting small, finishing big

Of course, Solana's price increase this year already has topped that of Moderna and just about every other stock. It's soared 13,600%. But in my comparison, I'm focusing on the idea of starting small and finishing the year as a major, established player. Moderna has done that. And if Solana can do it too, the crypto may extend 2021's increase.

So... why Solana? The blockchain stands out for a few reasons. The first one is speed. Solana uses a proof of history method for validating transactions on the platform. This involves marking each block of data with a timestamp of sorts. The process makes it easier and quicker for validators to do their job. In the end, Solana processes about 50,000 transactions per second. And the way Solana was designed means the platform eventually may process more than 700,000 transactions per second. That by far surpasses the speed potential of market leader Ethereum. That platform aims to process as many as 100,000 transactions per second after an upgrade set for next year.

Now speaking of other players, the cool thing about Solana is it's working with them. Here's what I mean: Solana developed a bridge that allows the transfer of assets across networks. This bridge -- called Wormhole -- works with Ethereum, Polygon, Terra, and Binance Smart Chain. This clearly will boost use of Solana because it means users don't have to choose between Solana and other players. Instead, they can use them all.

Making progress in decentralized applications

Another point to note about Solana is the progress it's made in the development of decentralized applications. The platform hosts more than 350 projects from non-fungible tokens to finance to games. This variety of applications running on Solana shows the real-world utility of the platform. Ethereum still remains ahead of Solana when it comes to number of projects. And that blockchain has the first-to-market advantage. But there is room for more than one player in this field. So, it's possible for Solana and Ethereum both to be key actors on this stage in the future.

Solana has had a tremendous year when it comes to price performance. But next year could be even more important. Because Solana will prepare the terrain for the long term. Like Moderna, it could progress from risky, newish player to one that shows it has what it takes to lead in its field well into the future -- and progressively find its way into more and more investment portfolios. 

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post This crypto could be the Moderna of 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The slip followed the release of data that showed US inflation hit a 30-year high in October.

Over the 12 months ended October, the US's consumer price index increased 6.3%. The index measures how prices for goods and services change month-to-month.

According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, the initial impact of the data saw the price of stocks drop and that of bonds bolster.

Which stocks dragged on the US market overnight?

Nasdaq

The biggest weights on the Nasdaq Composite include the Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) share price, which fell 3.33%.

That of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) also dropped 2.63% while the newly re-branded Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: FB) share price dipped 2.3%.

Interestingly, the Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TLSA) share price slightly recovered from its earlier 16% plunge. It gained 4.34% on Wednesday.

S&P 500

Weighing on the S&P 500 were the share prices of Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), and Twitter Inc (NYSE: TWTR).

They fell 3.7%, 3.1%, and 2.5% respectively.

ASX 200 tech shares in focus

The dip in US markets might make for an interesting day on the ASX. Particularly, since ASX 200 tech shares tend to trend in line with their Nasdaq-listed peers.

One of the obvious share prices to keep an eye on is that of Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT). The buy now, pay later company's suitor, Square Inc (NYSE: SQ) saw its share price drop 1.55% overnight.

Both the Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) and Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) share prices could also be in for a big session on Thursday.

The 2 ASX 200 tech shares have already struggled this week. They've both fallen 4% since Friday's close.

The post ASX 200 tech shares in focus as Nasdaq plunges 1.7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, units in the exchange traded fund (ETF) are trading for $33.45 – down 0.06%. Overnight, however, the NASDAQ 100 ended its trading day up 0.92%.

So, what were the biggest movers overnight?

Let's take a closer look.

What is NDQ invested in?

As the name of the ETF suggests, NDQ is invested in the 100 largest companies listed on the New York based tech-heavy stock exchange, such as Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Facebook, Inc (NASDAQ: FB).

Non-tech shares the ETF (and therefore the shareholder) are invested in include PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), and healthcare company Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA).

What moved the Nasdaq-100?

According to Nasdaq, the most prominent movers in early trade included biotech company Biogen Inc (NASDAQ: BIIB) – up 3.1%, and Pinduoduo Inc (NASDAQ: PDD) – down 1.2%.

Other prominent movers earlier in the day include Moderna – up 2.8%, and Okta Inc (NASDAQ: OKTA) – down 1%.

By the end of the day these were the 3 biggest gainers:

• Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ: MAR) – up 3.82%.
• Moderna Inc – up 3.15%.
• Booking Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: BKNG) – up 2.88%.

And these were the 3 heaviest fallers on the index by the end of the day:

• Seagen Inc (NASDAQ: SGEN) – down 1.74%.
• Charter Communications Inc (NASDAQ: CHTR) – down 1.28%.
• Okta Inc – down 0.80%.

Let's see if NDQ follows the NASDAQ 100's lead and ends today higher.

NDQ share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, shares in the ETF have increased 31.9%. This is greater than the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) but less than the actual NASDAQ 100 composite (by about 9 percentage points). It is, however, roughly matching its namesake's performance since the beginning of the year – both up about 21%.

The post What were the biggest movers on the Nasdaq 100 (ASX:NDQ) overnight? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Depending on how narrowly you define ETFs, they've been around for either 13 some years, or well over 20.

But one thing is clear.

As ever more retail investors have entered the market in recent years, ETFs have exploded in popularity. That's because, with a single investment, they can offer you exposure to a large selection of shares, helping diversify your portfolio without having to extensively research every holding yourself.

Below we look at a COVID-19 vaccine exchange traded fund that Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst Eric Balchunas says "has a lot of potential".

But first…

The pandemic's silver bullet?

As it stands, the world's leading COVID-19 vaccines rely on something called messenger RNA. You've likely heard that referred to as mRNA.

In a nutshell, mRNA acts as a kind of targeted delivery system that enables your own immune system to better squelch a virus, or potentially other types of disease.

Atop the current success in tackling the coronavirus, mRNA vaccines could potentially treat cancers, the flu, malaria…the list goes on.

While biotech companies have been working on mRNA since the first officially labelled ETFs came out 13 years ago, the global pandemic has turbocharged their development. And we could be hearing a lot more about this cutting-edge biotech in the years ahead.

According to John Bowler, manager of the Schroder Global Healthcare Fund (quoted by Bloomberg):

The beauty of mRNA technology is the speed, in that once you have the genetic sequence, you can identify exactly what you need to put in the code of your vaccine, and you are giving instructions to the target that the immune system can respond to. It really changes the whole dynamic on infectious diseases.

One ETF holds dozens of vaccine developers

Two of the most successful names in the COVID vaccine race are Moderna INC (NASDAQ: MRNA) and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX).

Moderna was founded in 2010 in the US state of Massachusetts. The company is a forerunner in mRNA research to treat a range of diseases. And when the COVID pandemic hit, Moderna's boffins went to work overtime.

Since 21 February 2020, when the most of the share market began to tank on early pandemic fears, Moderna's share price has soared 2,280%. In the past 12 months alone, it's gained 531%.

German biotechnology company BioNTech has also had huge success in combatting COVID together with its partner Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE). BioNTech was founded in 2008 and, before the pandemic, largely focused on using mRNA biotech to treat cancer.

The BioNTech share price is up 410% over the past 12 months.

But there's a lot more to the mRNA and the wider vaccine sector than Moderna and BioNTech. There are dozens of listed biotech companies working on improved COVID vaccines and other cutting edge treatments. We may not have heard of them yet but that may not be the case next year.

With that in mind we turn to ETFMG Treatments Testing and Advancements ETF (NYSEARCA: GERM). (Gotta love the ticker!)

Some 90% of the ETF's holdings are based in the United States and Germany.

Moderna, at 11.6%, is its top holding. BioNTech, at 8.8%, is number 2. It also holds more than 30 smaller, lesser-known (for now) companies. You can find a complete list of GERM's holdings here.

Commenting on GERM, Bloomberg's Balchunas said, "You're getting almost completely original exposure and there are some very small companies in here that could be future Modernas with the next big thing. That gives GERM a lot of potential M&A [mergers and acquisitions] pop."

The post Expert reveals top pandemic ETF play – up 58% in 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Barring a late-day break higher, today will mark 4 days in a row of losses for the ASX 200 this week.

But that's not necessarily anything to be concerned about. These kinds of retraces are part and parcel of investing in share markets.

We've seen the same thing happening on the US exchanges this week. And the Aussie market often follows where US markets lead.

ASX 200 slips from record closing high

After hitting record highs on Monday, the S&P 500 (INDEXSP: .INX) has given back some gains over the past 2 trading days, down 1.8%.

The ASX 200 hit its own all time closing high on Friday. It's currently down 2.2% from that peak.

But remember, year-to-date the ASX 200 remains up just shy of 12%.

Over the past 12 months, it's up 21%.

And since the post pandemic low on 20 March 2020, the index is up an eyewatering 55%.

That's not just 1 company were talking about. It's the average gain of the 200 largest listed companies in Australia.

Remarkable as that 55% gain is, however, it falls well shy of the 100% gain posted by the S&P 500.

Stock market records are meant to be broken

Commenting on the meteoric rise of the S&P 500 since 23 March 2020, multi-asset investment platform eToro's global markets strategist Ben Laidler said, "This has been the fastest start to a bull market of the last century, and we see room for more."

Materials, financials and technology shares led the broad rebound on US exchanges, much as they did on the ASX 200. Laidler says this rapid rebound was "driven by unprecedented fiscal and monetary response to the unique virus crisis".

Defensive shares "such as staples, healthcare and real estate" broadly lagged behind.

Looking at the top gainers, Biotech company Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) is up some 1,600% since the post pandemic lows, with Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ: CZR) soaring 864% and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) up 706%.

In case you're wondering, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) led the charge higher on the ASX 200, up 1,333% since 20 March 2020.

But, in the US markets, it was shares like Moderna, and a host of others, that helped drive the S&P 500 to 49 new all-time highs this year. And, as Laidler points out, this puts it on "pace to challenge the longstanding 1995 record of 77" all-time highs.

This is another indicator of how unusually strong performance this year has been already. This is not inevitable. The S&P 500 did not see a new high in 24 years from 1930-1954 and only 9 new highs from 2001-2012.

Despite the near record pace of the current bull run, e-Toro remains optimistic shares could have much further to go. According to Laidler:

We see further broad gains ahead as stronger earnings expectations continue to offset the risk of the Delta variant, Fed tapering, and lower valuations. We think 2022 earnings growth ends up double the 9% consensus, as leverage to reopening economies is under-estimated.

This is also an insurance policy to valuations falling from current high 21x P/E valuations as the Fed tightens policy. We expect more volatility ahead, with the VIX low and a pullback statistically overdue. But see markets well supported as they were to the 2013 Fed taper tantrum and the recent bond yield spike seen in Q1.

Can the ASX 200 follow suit and double its post pandemic lows?

On 20 March 2020, the ASX 200 closed at 4,816 points. At time of writing it's at 7,466 points. That means it needs to gain another 2,166 points, or some 29%, to achieve the doubling that the S&P 500 has scored.

As with the S&P 500, whether or not it reaches that milestone in the months ahead will greatly depend on strong earnings results offsetting resurgent concerns about the Delta variant derailing the economic recovery.

You can follow along with the FY21 earnings results of the leading ASX 200 companies right here.

The post Will the ASX 200 follow the S&P 500 to double its March 2020 lows? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, shares in the pharmaceutical company are trading for 46.5 cents each – up 25.68%.

Let's take a closer look at what's getting investors so excited.

IDT says it can manufacture mRNA vaccines in Australia

The COVID-19 pandemic has heralded the first wide-scale use of mRNA vaccines. The leading products in this space are the inoculations jointly produced by Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), as well as the Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) jab.

In an effort to secure domestic supply through the production of the vector for single-strand RNA of viruses, the federal government has been in talks with the companies in a bid to secure a licence for their COVID vaccines to be made in Australia. As well as IDT, CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) is interested in the production of mRNA vaccines on our shores.

IDT says what differentiates its offer from CSL's is it will use existing manufacturing capabilities located near Melbourne's Monash University to make the product. CSL is proposing 2 new facilities for the endeavour, according to the SMH.

The prospect of IDT being awarded a lucrative government contract may be exciting investors, judging by the IDT share price rise.

"This is an established site with an established equipment train in it, which we will expand, and I think that gives us a material time advantage," IDT Chief Executive David Sparling is quoted in the SMH as saying.

"We've formed an alliance with numerous research bodies around the country, including Monash University, and that builds an ecosystem for mRNA."

Dr Sparling further went on to tell the paper his company could produce "100 million doses within 18 months."

IDT says it wants to build an mRNA research facility near its production site if it secures the licence to make the product. Dr Sparling did not reveal any financial details to the SMH.

Motley Fool Australia reached out to IDT for comment. Dr Spalding responded that the reports in the SMH are accurate and that he had nothing further to add beyond what was already in the public domain.

IDT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the IDT share price has increased 141%. The company's shares faced a similar boom when IDT revealed it was in discussions with the Victorian government over a proposed mRNA vaccine plant.

IDT Australia has a market capitalisation of around $104 million.

The post Why the IDT (ASX:IDT) share price is rocketing 25% on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

CommSec is one of the most popular brokers in Australia. Because of this, CommSec's trading data gives us a useful insight into the US shares that ASX investors are finding interesting right now. 

So here are the top 10 international shares that CommSec-ers were trading last week. This week's data covers 2-6 August.

Robinhood and Square make their presence known to ASX investors

1. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) – representing 3.7% of total trades with a 60%/40% buy-to-sell ratio.
2. GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) – representing 2.9% of total trades with a 93%/7% buy-to-sell ratio.
3. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) – representing 2.5% of total trades with an 86%/14% buy-to-sell ratio.
4. Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) – representing 2.4% of total trades with a 65%/35% buy-to-sell ratio.
5. Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ: HOOD) – representing 1.9% of total trades with a 72%/28% buy-to-sell ratio.
6. Square Inc (NYSE: SQ)
7. AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE: AMC)
   
8. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD)
9. Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA)
10. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA)

What can we learn from these trades?

We see some interesting movements in this week's list. Firstly, it's worth noting that the perenially popular shares of Tesla and GameStop remain at the top of this pile, cementing a trend we have pretty much seen all year. Investors remain super-bullish on these two companies as well, in particular with GameStop. A staggering 93% of all GameStop trades on CommSec last week were on the buy side, despite the fact that this original 'meme stock' has slid around 15% over the past month or so.

Tesla also remains popular, albeit less so than GameStop. Tesla shares are up roughly 10% since the start of the month, which may be influencing trading activity here.

But turning to other news, and it was interesting to see e-commerce giant Amazon climb into the top 5 shares this week. Amazon is a regular feature on this list, but usually occupies a spot at the bottom of the table when it does turn up. Perhaps a rare share price pullback in Amazon shares (the company is down more than 10% over the month just passed) is to thank for this.

We also see a strong appetite for US share market newcomer Robinhood. Robinhood had an explosive IPO late last month, rising from around US$35 a share to US$85 by last Wednesday. The company is back down to the mid-US$50 range as it stands today.

And finally, it's also worth noting the presence of Afterpay Ltd's (ASX: APT) potential new overlord Square. Like Amazon, Square is a company that has turned up at the bottom of this table before, but its new presence in the ASX investor's mind looks to have boosted its profile. Square's commitment to list on the ASX if its acquisition of Afterpay goes through may also be at play here.

The post ASX investors were buying Robinhood, Square shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

1. Different companies from the beginning

2. What gets prioritized gets done

3. Wall Street shows one more love

MRNA PS Ratio data by YCharts

Data Sources: Moderna, BioNTech.

The tiebreaker

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Better biotech stock: Moderna vs. BioNTech appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) made the decision late last night. Previously, COVID vaccines were only approved for those over the age of 16.

The TGA said in a statement:

"(Approval) has been made following careful evaluation of the available data supporting safety and efficacy, including clinical studies with adolescents 12 to 15 years of age."

The highly infectious delta variant is spreading in Australia, including in children. This is unlike previous strains, so today's news will provide options for worried parents.

However, the TGA says:

"Continued approval depends on the evidence of longer-term efficacy and safety from ongoing clinical trials and post-market assessment."

Pfizer replaces AstraZeneca as vaccine du jour

Australia is ranked last for the percentage of people fully vaccinated in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and second last for people who have just one dose of the vaccine.

The federal government was relying on the bulk of supply to come from locally CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) manufactured AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN).

However, emerging evidence of an extremely rare blood clotting disorder caused by the vaccine led to the government's expert advisory body, ATAGI, to recommend only those aged over 50, later 60, should take the vaccine.

Large swathes of Australians, including older residents, are reluctant to take the vaccine. Instead, they are waiting for more Pfizer vaccine.

The problem is we have too much AstraZeneca and not enough Pfizer vaccine.

The government acted to double the supply of Pfizer, as well as order Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) vaccine as well. The bulk of this additional supply will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year.

The federal government has indemnified GPs who administer AstraZeneca in an attempt to get more jabs in arms.

It is available to those under 40 years who choose to take the jab at their doctor's office.

While today's news is positive, there is no expectation that children will be able to get inoculated any time soon.

Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt said:

"Our plans are in place to roll out what is more likely, on the early advice I have, is that they will fast-track vaccines for 12- to 15-year-olds for the immunocompromised children or those with underlying health conditions," Hunt told Channel 7.

Other children will need to wait, along with adults, for more supply of Pfizer most likely in September or October.

The post TGA approves Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 12-15 years old appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.