By post-COVID standards, March has been a relatively quiet month so far and local stocks continued that trend to the start the week.

The ASX200 tracked sideways while the Small Ords Index ticked higher into midday trade.

Elsewhere, the Aussie dollar was little-changed near US78c while gold is holding above the $US1,700 level where it’s traded for the past week.

The big mover in asset markets over the weekend was Bitcoin, which surged to new all-time highs above $US61,000.

US stock futures are pointing slightly higher ahead of big week of updates from central banks globally.

Ultimately, all roads lead to the Fed — which means all eyes will be on the US central bank when it meets for its next policy meeting on Thursday night.

Global bond yields are still edging higher, as the yield on benchmark US 10-year treasuries climbed above 1.64 per cent on Friday for the first time since February 7, 2020.
 

WINNERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Monday March 15:

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

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QEM Ltd (ASX:QEM), which operates a vanadium and shale oil project at Julia Creek in Queensland, became the latest stock to rip higher on the back of a green hydrogen narrative.

The company said it’s committed to “undertake studies into green hydrogen opportunities at Julia Creek”, which managing director Gavin Loydon said had the “optimal location and resource profile to produce hydrogen on-site”.

Shares in QEM more than doubled in morning trade to a multi-year high around 20c.

Anova Metals Limited (ASX:AWV) was also high up on the winner’s list after benefitting from ‘nearology’ in the wake of some US M&A activity.

The company advised of the pending acquisition of Canyon Canada Ltd, which operates the Jerritt Canyon gold mine, for $US470m.

Jerrit Canyon (Nevada, USA) is also located “immediately adjacent to Anova’s Big Springs gold project” AWV said, with “the entirety of the Big Springs tenure located within a 20km radius of the Jerritt Canyon mill”.
 

LOSERS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Monday March 15:

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

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