Essendon Federation Home Gets $2.375 Million as Melbourne Auction Market Edges Up
August 16, 2026, 4:25 AM EDT. The five-bedroom Federation house Iverley in Essendon went under the hammer for $2.375 million, taking out its $2.35 million reserve after a local family put in a $10,000 jump. Melbourne’s auction market saw a 57% preliminary clearance rate from 570 scheduled auctions last week, with some listings withdrawn and totals affected. Some experts say buyers and sellers are coming back but are still wary, waiting for signals on interest rates after the Reserve Bank left rates on hold and flagged possible hikes. Spring trading remains quieter than in past years as election jitters and other seasonal issues continue. A similar Federation property in Elwood attracted strong bidding but found a buyer after passing in at its guide. The Essendon result shows the market warming up, though caution is still in play.
Family makes bold bid to win $2,375,000 Es…
Imperial Brands LSE:IMB Holds Out 6.2% Dividend Yield for Passive Income
August 16, 2026, 4:24 AM EDT. Imperial Brands LSE:IMB is showing a 6.2% dividend yield, which stands out for passive income buyers even as the FTSE 100 trades near record highs. The company has raised its dividend several years running, helped by a 5.3% jump in underlying earnings per share and 98% cash conversion. Imperial also just finished a £809 million buyback. Long-term, cigarette volumes keep sliding as more consumers move away from smoking. Management continues to push investment into next-generation nicotine, though those products remain loss-making for now as revenue picks up. CEO Lukas Paravicini says profit growth is still tracking full-year targets. Investors have to balance stable payouts with sector-specific risks and ethics.
With a 6.2% yield, is this one of the best…
Xero, two other ASX names flagged for cash flow value play
August 16, 2026, 4:23 AM EDT. Investors hit by higher sovereign yields are shifting to companies with strong cash generation and low debt levels. Xero ASX:XRO, the cloud accounting firm posting NZ$2.75 billion in revenue, is trading under its discounted cash flow fair value, even with a steep P/E and tight margins. The company is leaning on AI partnerships and more integrations to deepen its reach in small business finance. Two more ASX stocks with solid cash flow also made Simply Wall Street’s screener, pointing to pockets of value as markets stay volatile. The full screener counts 38 more names showing strong cash flow.
Xero Stock And 2 ASX Cash Flow Picks Tradi…
Caution Flags for Mondi (LON:MNDI) as Dividend Date Approaches
August 16, 2026, 4:22 AM EDT. Mondi plc (LON:MNDI) will go ex-dividend on August 20. The payout of €0.0942 per share is set for September 25. Based on the current share price of UK£8.82, the trailing dividend yield is about 2.7%. But Mondi booked a loss after tax last year. The company only covered 38% of its dividend payout from free cash flow. Profits are down, and earnings have been falling. Those facts raise questions about how safe the dividend is, so investors thinking of buying Mondi for the income should take a closer look at these risks.
Here's Why We're Wary Of Buying Mondi's (L…
Renewables Yield Big, Still Risky; Defence ETF Beats FTSE 100 in 2026
August 16, 2026, 4:21 AM EDT. Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE:TRIG) pays a 9.8% dividend yield, one of the highest in the FTSE 250, but the shares remain pressured by debt and higher rates. About 64% of revenue is locked in for 10 years, while the rest gets a lift from energy prices. Dividend cover at 1.1 times is better, though risk is still high for income seekers. Over in defence, the HANetf Future of Defence ETF (LSE:NATO) has jumped 25% so far this year, topping the FTSE 100’s 8%. The ETF-which started in 2023-holds big names like BAE Systems along with CrowdStrike and other cyber and AI stocks. Returns since launch are near 170% as security themes draw buyers.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 16.08.202…
Anthropic $2 Trillion IPO Draws Attention From ISA Investors
August 16, 2026, 4:20 AM EDT. Anthropic, the AI startup behind the Claude platform, is heading for a $2 trillion IPO, a number that could put it ahead of SpaceX in market cap. The company was started in January 2021 and has grown fast. Annualised revenue has jumped from about $1 billion at the end of 2024 to more than $74 billion now. The company is said to have turned operating profits, but steady profit is not a lock yet. Anthropic mainly sells to big clients in finance and life sciences, pitching AI automation for productivity. There’s a lot to like, but investors eyeing Anthropic for Stocks and Shares ISAs still need to think about rising competition from cheaper Chinese AI players.
$2trn IPO! Should I buy Anthropic for my S…
Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE:TRIG) yields 9.8% as debt, rates pressure shares
August 16, 2026, 4:09 AM EDT. Renewables Infrastructure Group (LSE:TRIG) is showing a 9.8% dividend yield, among the highest in the FTSE 250. The group owns wind, solar, and battery assets in the UK and Europe and sells power for revenue. Shares have slumped with sector valuations, lifting yields, though TRIG has mostly kept up its dividend since 2014, aside from 2021. Debt and higher interest costs now weigh on the business; dividend cover sits at 1.1 times but has started to improve. Around 64% of revenue is fixed for ten years, while the rest gets a bump from recent energy price gains linked to the Middle East. Better cash flow could support dividends and help cut debt, but the group still looks like a higher-risk bet for income investors.
9.8% dividend yield! Should I buy this FTS…
Getting Started: Putting £500 Into Shares This August
August 16, 2026, 4:08 AM EDT.Investing with £500 is doable and lets investors put money into shares without taking on too much risk in one place. Watch out for platform fees, since charges can eat into a small account fast. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to grasp basics like mixing different shares and knowing what they’re worth. Goals and appetite for risk matter. City of London Investment Trust Plc (LSE: CTY) is mentioned here as a steady pick for balance, not for big swings. Even with uncertainty out there, value in UK shares is catching the eye, but picking the right account and doing your homework is still essential.
Here’s how you could start buying shares t…
HANetf Future of Defence ETF (LSE: NATO) jumps 25% in 2026, leaving FTSE 100 behind
August 16, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT. The HANetf Future of Defence ETF (LSE: NATO) is up around 25% year-to-date in 2026, outpacing the FTSE 100’s 8% climb. The ETF, which launched in 2023 and holds $3.5 billion in assets, combines classic defence names like BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin with cybersecurity and AI players such as CrowdStrike, Palantir, and Palo Alto Networks. That mix helped the fund put up about 170% since launch, or almost 40% a year. Growth in cybersecurity names has helped, with CrowdStrike shares jumping fivefold over three years on global security worries. The ETF’s blend of old-guard defence and newer tech stocks aims to give investors a spread of growth in a tense geopolitical backdrop.
This defence ETF holds BAE Systems, Palant…
