‘Rona is back with a bang in NSW, after authorities flagged another 16 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours.

Queensland has shut the gate on Sydney locals, with contact tracers still in the dark on the source of four new infections.

With masks now required in all indoor areas from 4pm today, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said the situation has gone from a “near and present danger to a very real danger”.

On local markets, the ASX edged lower in morning trade following a relatively quiet session for US stocks overnight.

Highlighting US trade were comments from US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, who reiterated the central bank’s view that it’s not worried about a sustained bout of higher inflation.

Across asset classes, the most notable move was in Brent crude oil which has climbed back above US$75 a barrel for the first time since April 2019.
 

WINNERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Wednesday, June 23:

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TTA Holdings (ASX:TTA) is boosting, although no one is quite sure why. The consumer electronics company, which distributes TEAC products in the Australian market, surged by more than 140% in morning trade before going into a trading halt, pending a further announcement.

It’s not the first time this year TTA shares have gone parabolic — the stock had similar spikes in February and March before equally sharp declines.

The company’s latest 4C filing for the March quarter showed it booked positive operating cash flows of $592,000, on cash receipts of $2.945m.

Junior resources explorer Ardiden (ASX:ADV) also ripped higher, after announcing that Great Northern Lithium Pty Ltd has exercised its right to acquire 80% of ADV’s hard rock (spodumene) lithium portfolio in Ontario, Canada and establish a joint venture to develop the assets.

Outside of resources, Actinogen Medical (ASX:ACW) jumped onto the midday winner’s list after announcing it had received a positive response from US health regulators to its Pre-Investigational New Drug Application (Pre-IND).

Actinogen said the response makes it more likely the company will achieve Pre-IND approval ahead of the Phase II trial for XanaFX — its treatment for cognitive impairment caused by Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) — which is scheduled to take place in Australia in the December quarter.
 

LOSERS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Wednesday, June 23:

Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.

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