The latest uptick means the shares are now 13.2% higher over the past five days and 6.9% higher for the year-to-date.

It's welcome news for investors too, after Bendigo Bank shares shed over 14% of their value between mid-February and late-March.

Why are Bendigo Bank shares climbing higher this week?

The regional Australian bank posted its third-quarter trading update ahead of the ASX open on Thursday morning.

The bank revealed a 7.6% increase in unaudited cash earnings and a 1.98% rise in net interest margin. It's annualised lending growth was 5.6% for the quarter and its statutory NPAT reached $109.4 million.

It also revealed that its operating expenses came in 4.1% lower than the previous quarter, largely due to reduced staff costs.

Alongside the trading update, the bank also announced the second phase of its Productivity Program to accelerate its progress towards its 2030 strategy.

The program is expected to help the bank evolve its operating model with a view to be simpler and more efficient. It is also accessing leading global capabilities to drive innovation for customers, and support operational excellence.

Bendigo Bank announced a partnership with Google in November last year. It has now added two more strategic partnerships with leading technology providers. 

These include a seven-year technology service partnership with Infosys (NYSE: INFY) and a six-year business operations partnership with Genpact (NYSE: G).

The Infosys partnership is expected to help improve Bendigo Bank's IT service delivery capability and help drive innovation through better software engineering and access to AI talent.

Meanwhile, the Genpact partnership will help with optimisation to help drive productivity and improve risk management across the bank.

Bendigo Bank said it expects the partnerships will help drive an annual run rate expense benefit of approximately $65 million to $75 million by FY28. 

Investors were clearly thrilled with the latest update. Many rushed to buy into the shares soon after the announcement.

Are the shares a buy, sell or hold?

Bendigo Bank's latest update injected some positive sentiment into investors, but it's unclear whether the share price increase is sustainable.

ASX bank stocks across the board have been strained recently as ongoing conflict in the Middle East, soaring fuel prices, and interest rate growth weigh heavily on investor sentiment.

Experts are now warning that Australia's inflation rate could keep climbing. Major banks widely predict another cash rate increase in May. 

It's not too surprising then that analysts are relatively neutral on Bendigo Bank shares. While the bank has made some positive waves, the sector as a whole is still under pressure. 

According to TradingView data, nine out of 14 analysts have a hold rating on Bendigo Bank shares. The average $10.43 target price, however, implies a potential 8% downside at the time of writing. 

The post Are Bendigo Bank shares a buy after jumping 13% this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Whether you are seeking exposure to megatrends, fast-growing emerging markets, or long-term structural themes, the ETFs below offer a compelling mix for a small, high-impact investment.

Here are three ASX ETFs worth considering with $3,000 this December.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

In recent years, cybersecurity has become a non-negotiable expense for businesses, governments, and consumers. With cyberattacks increasing in frequency, complexity, and cost, global spending on digital defence is surging.

The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF gives investors exposure to leading cybersecurity companies such as CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO). These are businesses providing essential security infrastructure, software, and threat detection systems to organisations worldwide.

Demand for cybersecurity is not cyclical, it is structural. As more devices and services connect to the internet, the need for reliable protection grows even faster. For investors seeking long-term, tech-driven growth without the need to pick individual winners, this fund could be a compelling addition to a portfolio in December.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF taps into two of the most transformative forces shaping the global economy: robotics and artificial intelligence.

These technologies are already reshaping manufacturing, medicine, logistics, retail, and consumer electronics, and the pace of adoption is accelerating. Among its holdings are companies leading the charge such as Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), and ABB Ltd (SWX: ABBN). Nvidia powers the world's AI chips, Intuitive Surgical leads robotic-assisted surgery, and ABB is a global automation heavyweight.

They, and the rest of its holdings, look well-positioned for growth over the next decade and beyond. This bodes well for the performance of the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF, which was recently recommended by Betashares.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

Finally, the Indian economy could be one of the most powerful growth stories of the next 20 years. With a young population, rising incomes, rapid urbanisation, and increasing global influence, the country is positioning itself as a major economic engine.

The Betashares India Quality ETF gives investors exposure to high-quality Indian stocks such as Infosys (NYSE: INFY), HDFC Bank (NSEI: HDFCBANK), and Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS). These are leaders in IT services, financials, and business outsourcing.

Overall, this ETF allows Australian investors to tap into India's growth without needing to pick individual stocks or navigate the complexities of investing directly in the country. It was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy with $3,000 in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And for anyone thinking about building long-term wealth for children or grandchildren, a simple, low-maintenance investment strategy is often the smartest way forward.

That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come in. With just a few high-quality ETFs, you can create a globally diversified portfolio designed to compound steadily over decades.

If I were building a long-term portfolio for future kids or grandkids, these are three ASX ETFs I would consider choosing.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF offers exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index, which is home to some of the world's most innovative businesses. This includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). These are companies driving advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductors, and consumer technology.

The Nasdaq has a long track record of outperforming many global indices thanks to its focus on high-growth sectors. Over a 10- to 20-year period, these businesses tend to reinvest heavily, innovate quickly, and grow earnings at a far faster rate than traditional industries.

For a child or grandchild with decades ahead of them, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be a powerful long-term compounding machine.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

India is shaping up to be one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, driven by rapid urbanisation, favourable demographics, and rising disposable incomes.

The Betashares India Quality ETF gives Australian investors a simple way to participate in this growth by owning a basket of high-quality Indian stocks that have been screened for strong profitability and financial strength.

Some of its notable holdings include Reliance Industries (NSEI: RELIANCE), Infosys (NYSE: INFY), and Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS). These are businesses that play central roles in India's digital transformation, infrastructure expansion, and economic development.

As India's middle class continues to grow and consumption accelerates, the country's long-term investment case looks compelling. This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

Asia is home to some of the most influential technology companies on the planet, and the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF captures them in a single trade.

This popular ASX ETF invests in giants such as Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA). These are businesses that dominate gaming, social media, e-commerce, semiconductors, and AI hardware.

The region's tech sector is expanding rapidly as digital adoption accelerates, cloud usage grows, and AI investment soars. For a child with decades of compounding ahead, exposure to Asia's innovation engine could be incredibly valuable.

The post The ASX ETFs I'd buy for my kids or grandkids appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A 20-year investing horizon gives compounding the freedom to work its magic, smoothing out the bumps and capturing the long-run performance of global markets.

The good news for Australian investors is that the ASX offers world-class ETFs that provide instant diversification across many of the most innovative stocks and strongest economies on the planet.

If you're looking to set up a portfolio you won't need to tinker with for a very long time, the following three ASX ETFs are hard to beat.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

When it comes to long-term wealth creation, it is hard to look beyond the US market.

The iShares S&P 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, giving investors a slice of America's 500 largest stocks. These are the businesses driving innovation in technology, healthcare, consumer spending, and industrials.

This includes giants such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT). These companies have shaped global consumer behaviour, created new industries, and consistently reinvested into product development and growth. For a 20-year investment horizon, it is arguably a must-have building block.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

India is increasingly being viewed as one of the world's most exciting long-term economic growth stories. With a young population, a rapidly expanding middle class, modernising infrastructure, and booming digital adoption, the country is expected to be one of the fastest-growing major economies for decades.

The Betashares India Quality ETF focuses specifically on high-quality Indian companies with strong fundamentals. Its portfolio includes leading names such as Infosys (NYSE: INFY), Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS), and HDFC Bank (NSEI: HDFCBANK). These are businesses benefitting from both domestic expansion and the global outsourcing boom.

India is still early in its economic development cycle compared to Western markets, meaning its long-term runway could be significantly larger. For Australian investors wanting emerging-market growth without taking on excessive risk, this fund offers a blend of quality, diversification, and future upside. It was recently named as one to consider buying by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Global Shares Ex-US ETF (ASX: EXUS)

If you have your US exposure sorted, then it could be worth looking at the new Betashares Global Shares Ex-US ETF.

This ASX ETF gives investors exposure to more than 900 large and mid-cap stocks across 22 developed markets outside the US and Australia.

Its top holdings include ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), Roche (SWX: ROG), AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN), Nestlé (SWX: NESN), and SAP (ETR: SAP). These are global leaders in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and enterprise software.

This fund balances a long-term portfolio by reducing concentration in American technology stocks and increasing exposure to financials, industrials, healthcare, and consumer defensives. It was also recently named as one to consider buying by the fund manager.

The post The best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 20 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's see what makes them potentially top picks for Aussie investors with money to put into the share market:

BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF (ASX: CLDD)

Cloud computing has been called one of the most transformative trends of the 21st century and it is still only partway through its story. The BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF gives investors access to stocks powering the world's digital backbone.

Its holdings include Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP), ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). These are all leaders in cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and online services.

ServiceNow's software helps large organisations automate workflows and reduce inefficiencies, becoming an indispensable tool for corporations undergoing digital transformation. With its customer base growing across government and enterprise sectors, the company is well-positioned to capture more of the global shift toward automation and cloud-based operations.

Analysts at Betashares recently named the BetaShares Cloud Computing ETF as one to consider buying.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

If you want a focus on quality, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF is hard to beat.

This fund invests in US-listed stocks that have wide economic moats. These are competitive advantages that make them difficult to disrupt. Holdings include names such as Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Nike (NYSE: NKE), Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), and Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT).

With respect to Adobe, its subscription-based software suite, which includes Photoshop, Acrobat, and its growing Experience Platform, continues to deliver reliable recurring revenue and robust profit margins. Its entrenched market position, coupled with expanding AI integration, makes it a textbook example of what wide moat investing is all about.

BetaShares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

Finally, India represents one of the most exciting long-term growth stories on the planet.

The BetaShares India Quality ETF provides exposure to high-quality Indian stocks benefiting from rapid urbanisation, digital transformation, and a rising middle class. Its portfolio includes leaders such as Infosys (NYSE: INFY), Reliance Industries (NSEI: RELIANCE), Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS), and Bharti Airtel.

A standout here is Reliance Industries, one of India's largest conglomerates. Its operations span energy, retail, and telecommunications. These are sectors that are all expanding alongside the country's economy. Reliance's pivot toward digital services and green energy could make it a long-term winner as India continues modernising.

It was also recently named as one to consider buying by the team at Betashares.

The post Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One of the easiest ways to do it is through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). They provide access to global markets and exposure to powerful growth trends, all without needing to pick individual stocks.

If you are investing with a time horizon of 20 years or more, the three ASX ETFs listed below could be among the most compelling options to buy and hold for the long haul. Here's why:

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is popular with investors and for good reason. It gives investors exposure to many of the largest tech stocks on Wall Street. This means instant access to names like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL).

Over the past two decades, these kinds of companies have been at the centre of global economic transformation. This includes from personal computing and e-commerce to artificial intelligence and cloud services. The good news is that this innovation isn't slowing down, positioning the fund for growth over the long term.

A standout holding is Nvidia, which has become the engine of the AI revolution. Its graphics processing units (GPUs) power everything from data centres to autonomous vehicles and cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Another ASX ETF that could be a great long-term pick is the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF. It targets one of the fastest-growing sectors in technology: cybersecurity.

As the world shifts online, protecting data and networks has become mission-critical for governments, corporations, and individuals alike. This bodes well for the fund's holdings, which include global cybersecurity leaders and emerging players.

Among its holdings are Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), and Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA).

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

Finally, the Betashares India Quality ETF could be a top buy and hold option. It opens the door to one of the world's most exciting growth stories – the Indian economy. The country is projected to become the world's third-largest economy within the next decade, powered by a young population, rapid urbanisation, and an expanding technology sector.

The Betashares India Quality ETF invests in high-quality Indian stocks with strong balance sheets and sustainable earnings growth. Its portfolio includes major financial, consumer, and technology names such as Infosys (NYSE: INFY), Reliance Industries (NSEI: RELIANCE), and Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS).

In respect to Infosys, it is a global IT services and consulting giant. It helps businesses worldwide with digital transformation, cloud integration, and AI adoption.

The post 3 amazing ASX ETFs to buy and hold for two decades appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For Australians, a handful of ASX ETFs stand out as strong buy-and-hold options, particularly for those seeking long-term growth.

With that in mind, here are three ETFs that could be compelling additions to a portfolio right now.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial stocks on the famous Nasdaq exchange.

That means instant ownership of giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), as well as other leaders in biotech, e-commerce, and entertainment.

What makes the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF attractive is its positioning in some of the most innovative sectors of the global economy, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital media. While U.S. tech stocks can be volatile, their long-term record of wealth creation arguably makes this ASX ETF a compelling growth play for Aussie investors.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

The Betashares India Quality ETF provides investors with easy access to one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. It invests in 30 of India's highest-quality stocks, selected for strong profitability, low leverage, and earnings stability.

Its holdings include Infosys Ltd (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in IT services, Bharti Airtel (NSE: BHARTIARTL), a major telecom operator, and Hindustan Unilever (NSE: HINDUNILVR), a consumer goods powerhouse.

With India's expanding middle class and increasing digitalisation, these stocks and this ASX ETF are well placed to benefit from structural growth drivers that could play out over decades. It was recently recommended as one to consider buying by Betashares.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

Finally, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF is built on Warren Buffett's philosophy of investing in companies with fair valuations and strong competitive moats — advantages that protect their profits and market share.

Its portfolio currently includes names like Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), a global software giant, Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR), a leader in life sciences and diagnostics, and Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT), a key player in the semiconductor industry. These stocks operate in industries with high barriers to entry and have the brand strength or technology edge to fend off competitors.

In light of this, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF appears well-placed to continue delivering strong returns for investors over the next decade, which makes this ASX ETF an attractive option in the current market.

The post Why NDQ ETF and these ASX ETFs could be strong buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.