With the delta variant raging, the question has been asked in some corners; why have the Japanese government and the IOC (International Olympics Committee) insisted on holding the Summer Olympics?
Tokyo’s daily positive COVID-19 cases were at 1,000, but spiked to 2,000 as foreign athletes and contingents entered the country.
More than 80% of Japanese citizens polled are also opposed to the Games being held in the middle of a pandemic.
“You cannot take a decision regarding an Olympics Games, which is watched by billions around the world, based on a poll,” says IOC president, Thomas Bach.
Yes…not if US$12.6 billion was on the line – which is how much Tokyo has spent on it.
The Games will be held starting tonight (9pm AEST) until August 8th.
To the ASX….
The ASX 200 closed 0.11% higher at the morning session, with four out 11 sectors in the red.
Leading the session was IT and Healthcare, which rose by around 1.5% each.
WINNERS
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
| CODE | COMPANY | LAST | % CHANGE | VOLUME | MARKET CAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIB | Aurora Glb Trust | 0.15 | 50.0% | 302,871 | $696,679 |
| ANL | Amani Gold Ltd | 0.0015 | 50.0% | 8,985,020 | $12,386,997 |
| MXI | MaxiTRANS Industries | 0.58 | 28.9% | 4,824,529 | $83,284,044 |
| ARO | Astro Resources NL | 0.005 | 25.0% | 309,156 | $15,056,772 |
| IEC | Intra Energy Corp | 0.01 | 25.0% | 312,400 | $3,181,792 |
| POS | Poseidon Nick Ltd | 0.135 | 22.7% | 26,073,932 | $309,035,634 |
| SW1 | Swift Media Limited | 0.028 | 21.7% | 2,643,716 | $13,308,501 |
| WEL | Winchester Energy | 0.018 | 20.0% | 27,559,372 | $12,957,092 |
| EGL | Environmental Group | 0.094 | 17.5% | 695,008 | $22,158,010 |
| DTC | Damstra Holdings | 1.12 | 15.5% | 2,043,473 | $181,208,736 |
| FTZ | Fertoz Ltd | 0.235 | 14.6% | 817,361 | $41,843,101 |
| JPR | Jupiter Energy | 0.048 | 14.3% | 4,145 | $6,441,863 |
| WML | Woomera Mining Ltd | 0.024 | 14.3% | 4,956,259 | $10,494,656 |
| HZN | Horizon Oil Limited | 0.125 | 13.6% | 3,118,157 | $173,683,726 |
| FAR | FAR Ltd | 1.25 | 13.6% | 2,003,473 | $109,769,541 |
| SGC | Sacgasco Ltd | 0.052 | 13.0% | 3,378,931 | $21,964,693 |
| EVE | EVE Investments Ltd | 0.0045 | 12.5% | 41,999 | $15,372,568 |
| SBR | Sabre Resources | 0.0045 | 12.5% | 1,431,944 | $6,732,255 |
| CKA | Cokal Ltd | 0.095 | 11.8% | 3,402,047 | $78,589,497 |
| MDC | Medlab Clinical Ltd | 0.19 | 11.8% | 462,184 | $58,169,864 |
| OKR | Okapi Resources | 0.39 | 11.4% | 1,815,443 | $18,672,021 |
| VAL | Valor Resources Ltd | 0.01 | 11.1% | 1,657,256 | $26,044,483 |
| VKA | Viking Mines Ltd | 0.02 | 11.1% | 9,910,713 | $18,382,652 |
| BBT | Bluebet Holdings Ltd | 2.11 | 10.5% | 742,248 | $382,209,430 |
| AGC | AGC Ltd | 0.16 | 10.3% | 550,911 | $9,820,456 |
Trailers specialist MaxiTrans (ASX:MXI) rose by 23% after entering into an agreements to sell its Trailer Solutions business and Ballarat property to Australian Trailer Solutions Group (ATSG), for an enterprise value of $30.257m, subject to shareholder approval.
In addition, MXI is in advanced discussions to sell its Derrimut and Hallam sites to a third party for a cash consideration of $18.05m.
These transactions will transform MXI into a dedicated commercial parts distribution business and are consistent with MXI’s long term strategy.
“What we are announcing today creates two simplified and more focused businesses,” said MaxiTrans CEO, Dean Jenkins.
Telco Swift Media (ASX:SW1) rose by 13% after flagging a 15% increase in full year FY21 revenues from the prior corresponding period (pcp), to $17.6 million.
IT solutions company Damstra Holdings (ASX:DTC) leapt another 15%, and is up by 40% this week after delivering a record quarterly revenue of $9.1m in Q4, up 75% on pcp, announced yesterday.
Defence and space technology company Electro Optic Systems (ASX:EOS) led the ASX Tech sector today, after rising 9% off the back of its quarterly update.
EOS said it has advanced its SpaceLink ‘communications superhighway for the new space economy’ and is in the process of selecting a satellite manufacturer for building the first constellation of four satellites.
Scheduled to list later today is GWR spinoff Western Gold Resources (ASX:WGR), which will list at 20c per share after raising $7 million in an IPO.
LOSERS
Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Description | Last | % | Volume | MktCap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLZ | Classic Min Ltd | 0.0015 | -25.0% | 15,898,880 | $43,540,809 |
| CCE | Carnegie Cln Energy | 0.0025 | -16.7% | 18,439,797 | $44,107,721 |
| DCX | Discovex Res Ltd | 0.005 | -16.7% | 2,000,000 | $15,411,984 |
| VPR | Volt Power Group | 0.0025 | -16.7% | 249,584 | $28,033,601 |
| CXZ | Connexion Telematics | 0.017 | -15.0% | 10,417,597 | $17,603,302 |
| EPX | Ept Global Limited | 0.17 | -12.8% | 98,634 | $22,655,482 |
| GMN | Gold Mountain Ltd | 0.021 | -12.5% | 1,532,084 | $18,425,398 |
| DDD | 3D Resources Limited | 0.004 | -11.1% | 878,116 | $17,461,674 |
| MBK | Metal Bank Ltd | 0.008 | -11.1% | 421,093 | $10,701,615 |
| TSC | Twenty Seven Co. Ltd | 0.004 | -11.1% | 2,075,000 | $11,973,606 |
| CLU | Cluey Ltd | 1.05 | -10.3% | 1,667 | $104,502,377 |
| AXP | AXP Energy Ltd | 0.0045 | -10.0% | 5,614,700 | $23,392,563 |
| SLR | Silver Lake Resource | 1.59 | -9.9% | 11,512,828 | $1,556,462,569 |
| CLB | Candy Club | 0.14 | -9.7% | 217,510 | $53,057,299 |
| BDG | Black Dragon Gold | 0.068 | -9.3% | 156,471 | $10,172,936 |
| EQE | Equus Mining Ltd | 0.01 | -9.1% | 2,139,950 | $27,517,500 |
| LSR | Lodestar Minerals | 0.01 | -9.1% | 1,414,400 | $14,200,311 |
| LKE | Lake Resources | 0.41 | -8.9% | 6,742,827 | $476,134,797 |
| WSR | Westar Resources | 0.16 | -8.6% | 16,840 | $5,591,600 |
| ZMM | Zimi Ltd | 0.016 | -8.6% | 824,000 | $10,555,747 |
| ATU | Atrum Coal Ltd | 0.055 | -8.3% | 28,898 | $34,915,899 |
| HRL | Hrlholding | 0.11 | -8.3% | 31,773 | $59,253,268 |
| PRS | Prospech Limited | 0.11 | -8.3% | 101,399 | $7,802,471 |
| WNX | Wellnex Life Ltd | 0.11 | -8.3% | 2,414,161 | $36,036,698 |