After a slight pause to start the week, it was all systems go on the ASX this morning as local markets got back to their winning ways.
Sentiment was boosted by a strong session in the US, where markets shrugged off some downbeat earnings results from the major banks.
All eyes were also on Hong Kong’s Hang Send index this morning after President Trump removed the semi-autonomous territory’s special trading status overnight — effectively ruling that Hong Kong is now part of China for trade purposes.
But the good vibes extended across most of the big Asian markets, with stocks higher in Hong Kong and Japan while China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was slightly lower.
US stock futures also climbed again after Wall Street closed, with some analysts attributing the move to promising COVID-19 vaccine results in testing carried out US biotech firm Moderna.
Shortly after midday AEST, the ASX200 was up by 1.4 per cent to 6,025 which the Small Ords Index climbed 1.8 per cent to 2,638.
In line with the broader risk-on sentiment, the Aussie dollar climbed back above US70c as the greenback lost ground against most of the major pairs.
SMALL CAP WINNERS
Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Wednesday July 15:
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CODE COMPANY PRICE CHANGE MARKET CAP 1ST 1st Group 0.051 64.52% $22.1M CCE Carnegie Clean 0.0015 50.00% $11.1M LRS Latin Resources Ltd 0.01 66.67% $4.6M AUZ Australian Mines Ltd 0.013 44.44% $47.1M SHH Shree Minerals 0.01 40.00% $4.3M KEY Key Petroleum Ltd 0.004 33.33% $7.9M MAR Malachite Resources Ltd 0.036 33.33% $500K KNM Kneomedia 0.013 30.00% $11.8M EDE Eden Innovations 0.034 25.93% $58.6M TAS Tasman Resources Ltd 0.039 25.81% $20.1M AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd 0.005 25.00% $4.1M ICG Inca Minerals Ltd 0.0025 25.00% $8.1M IMM Immutep 0.18 24.14% $90.2M SI6 Simble Solutions 0.033 32.00% $3.9M CY5 Cygnus Gold 0.235 23.68% $18.4M TGO Trimantium Growthops 0.055 22.22% $6.8M EQE Equus Mining Ltd 0.011 22.22% $12.7M RDS Redstone Resources 0.012 20.00% $4.7M CHZ Chesser Resources 0.12 20.00% $32.7M NUH Nuheara 0.038 22.58% $42.2M 3DP Pointerra 0.11 18.28% $73.0M NES Nelson Resources 0.054 17.39% $6.1M
Telehealth company 1st Group (ASX:1ST) led the pack on the back of some BNPL news, after announcing a tie-up with OpenPay (ASX:OPY).
Under the terms of the deal, patients that use the 1st Group platform to connect with doctors will have the option to use OpenPay for their medical bills.
1st Group managing director Klaus Bartosch told Stockhead that in the wake of the pandemic, an increasing number of people are likely to use BNPL services to pay their medical bills.
Digital education provider KNeoMedia Limited (ASX:KNM) also rose strongly after announcing that its US shares, which trade on an exchange run by the US-based OTC Markets Group, have been approved for clearing and settlement through the US Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC).
DTCC approval means various online brokers such as Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab and ETrade can offer trades in KNeoMedia stock.
SMALL CAP LOSERS
Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Wednesday July 15:
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
CODE | COMPANY | PRICE | CHANGE | MARKET CAP |
---|---|---|---|---|
VMG | Vdm Group | 0.001 | -50.00% | $13.9M |
RFN | Reffind Ltd | 0.001 | -50.00% | $1.0M |
ALT | Analytica Ltd | 0.002 | -33.33% | $3.5M |
AHL | Ahalife Holdings | 0.005 | -28.57% | $4.7M |
WWI | West Wits Mining Ltd | 0.017 | -22.73% | $17.4M |
PPL | Pureprofile Ltd | 0.017 | -19.05% | $2.0M |
ALY | Alchemy Resources Ltd | 0.017 | -19.05% | $11.6M |
CLZ | Classic Minerals Ltd | 0.003 | -16.67% | $28.1M |
FTT | Factor Therapeutics | 0.005 | -16.67% | $6.3M |
SUP | Superior Resources Ltd | 0.006 | -14.29% | $17.2M |
NZS | New Zealand Coastal Seafoods | 0.012 | -14.29% | $10.2M |
SI6 | Six Sigma Metals | 0.006 | -14.29% | $4.5M |
IDA | Indiana Resources | 0.042 | -14.29% | $9.1M |
ADV | Ardiden | 0.015 | -13.89% | $26.8M |
CPT | Covata Ltd | 0.038 | -13.64% | $3.7M |
AVE | Avecho Biotechnology | 0.007 | -12.50% | $11.2M |
SCU | Stemcell United Ltd | 0.015 | -11.76% | $9.6M |
MEU | Marmota Energy Ltd | 0.056 | -11.11% | $46.5M |