2 'very interesting' ASX shares to buy now as ASX 200 roars back

A pair of very different businesses has one fund manager's attention as the Australian market soars again.

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It seems the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has shed its anxieties for now and decided to ascend in style once again.

With just one day remaining in the month, the benchmark has risen an amazing 6.5% in March.

Whether the revival will last is anyone's guess, but there are some tempting buys out there if you want to hitch a ride on the latest upturn.

Here are a couple of suggestions from Burman Invest chief investment officer Julia Lee:

The software stock in the bargain bin right now

Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) shares have fallen 26% for the year so far, but Lee loves it as a buying opportunity.

"I think Xero under $100… is looking very interesting. I think fair value is more around that $120 mark," she told Switzer TV Investing.

"Some of its competitors are upping the game overseas… But all together things have been still relatively strong from a growth perspective."

A 6.6% surge upwards in the last five trading days has sent the Xero price back above that $100 threshold that Lee spoke of. 

But at $108.16 on Wednesday afternoon, there's still plenty of upside.

The accounting software provider has plenty of fans, with the likes of TMS Capital portfolio manager Ben Clark and Medallion Financial Group private client advisor Stuart Bromley singing its praises.

"Users tend to stick with the product. The business is capital-light and scalable," Bromley said last week.

"The [share] price discount is attractive."

This is not an energy stock, but will do well when oil prices surge

Lee nominated Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) as the other attractive stock at the moment.

The business makes chemical products like fertilisers and explosives. For Lee, the prospect of energy prices rising will give Incitec shares a handy catalyst.

"You know I've been a fan of fertiliser for a while, and one of the major costs of fertiliser is energy prices," she said.

"As oil prices rise, you usually see fertiliser prices rising."

Most other analysts agree with Lee. According to CMC Markets, eight out of 10 fund managers are rating the stock as a "strong buy".

Incitec Pivot shares are already up 16% for the year so far, which is completely opposite to where the rest of the market has been heading.

Just this month, the share price has gained more than 24%.

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo owns Xero. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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