ASX small cap wrap: who flew and who fell last week
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Everyone’s favourite biotech rollercoaster Biotron (ASX:BIT) was on the up again this week — doubling in price after confirming it would soon present detailed results from its HIV drug trial.
Biotron hit 20-bagger status last month after announcing its flagship drug BIT225, had “significant immunological outcomes” in a Phase 2 clinical trial.
The stock took off from 1.9c to a high of 44.5c on October 17 before cooling to 10c.
This week the stock came roaring back — gaining 100 per cent to 21c for the week.
Biotech plans to present trial results at the “HIV DART and Emerging Viruses 2018” conference in Miami, Florida between November 27 and 29.
Mining services group PPK (ASX:PPK) jumped 61 per cent to 51.5c after buying a stake in a nanofibre technology developed at Victoria’s Deakin University.
PPK will acquire 50 per cent of the patented “Boron Nitride Nanotubes” manufacturing technology from tech incubator Australian Innovation Centre.
The technology was discovered 20 years ago by Nobel Prize winner Professor Richard Smalley who called it “the strongest fibre that you can make out of anything, ever”.
The super flexible ‘fibre’ — which is 2300 times stronger than steel but as light as carbon fibre — is now nearing bulk scale commercialisation in Australia.
Zinc explorer Peel Mining (ASX:PEX) rocketed 30 per cent to 43c for the week after a discovery that included a zinc grading of 40 per cent.
Anything over 12 per cent zinc is considered high grade.
The find came from drilling results at Peel’s “Southern Nights” site in NSW. The shares jumped from 31c to an intraday high of 45c before cooling off.
Peel reckons it’s the highest zinc intercept it has ever reported and — coupled with results from adjacent drill holes — indicates a zone of ”near surface, very high grade mineralisation”.
The 18.2 metre drill intercept also included 15 per cent lead, 1 per cent copper, 350 grams per tonne of silver, and 2.7 grams per tonne of gold – 182m from the surface.
Meteoric Resources (ASX:MEI) put on 28 per cent to 1.8c as it prepared to to drill at its highest priority cobalt target.
Meteoric is starting an initial eight-hole program at its Joyce project in Canada’s Western Ontario.
The latest results from 3D geophysical modelling revealed nine electromagnetic anomalies that are prospective for Cu-Co-Au (Copper, Cobalt, Gold) as well as positive rock chip assays.
“Over recent months we have completed regional project reviews and concluded Joyce to be our most prospective target across our Canadian cobalt portfolio,” managing director Andrew Tunks said.
Tolga Kumova’s Alderan (ASX:AL8) popped 20 per cent higher to 21c on news that drilling at its Accrington prospect in Utah has returned thick and high-grade copper intersections.
The latest results (including 54m at 1.4% copper from 45m with other metals) is a reward for a company exploring for a potential game-changing discovery, wrote Barry FitzGerald in his weekly Garimpeiro column.
“In Alderan’s case, Accrington – surrounded as it is by Rio Tinto which operates the big Bingham Canyon copper mine in Utah – looks as it just might have the makings of something special, if additional drilling match the latest results,” FitzGerald wrote.
iSentia Group (ASX:ISD) rose 19 per cent to 28c after the company’s annual general meeting where new boss Ed Harrison outlined the company’s turnaround strategy.
Mr Harrison — a former Fairfax and Yahoo exec — reaffirmed FY19 guidance of “revenue in the low to mid $120 millions range and EBITDA in the low to mid $20 millions range”.
Earlier chairman Doug Sneddon said: “I want to assure you that we have all been disappointed in Isentia’s recent share price performance. And the Board and executive team are working hard to restore shareholder value.”
The media monitoring business got walloped in August after a dividend cut, poor results and subdued outlook.
Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks for Nov 9-16:
Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort
ASX code | Company | One-week price change | Price Nov 9 | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|
WBE | WHITEBARK ENERGY | 1 | 0.004 | 6.3M |
BIT | BIOTRON | 1 | 0.21 | 128.1M |
KPC | KAZAKHSTAN POTAS | 0.727272727273 | 0.019 | 27.5M |
PPK | PPK GROUP | 0.609375 | 0.515 | 30.3M |
DAV | DAVENPORT RESOUR | 0.5625 | 0.125 | 14.3M |
CNL | CELAMIN HOLDINGS | 0.538461538462 | 0.04 | 3.6M |
FEI | FE INVESTMENTS G | 0.5 | 0.135 | 21.6M |
MOX | MONAX MINING | 0.5 | 0.003 | 2.2M |
OEX | OILEX | 0.5 | 0.009 | 15.9M |
BOA | BOADICEA RESOURC | 0.5 | 0.15 | 5.8M |
ENR | ENCOUNTER RESOUR | 0.475 | 0.059 | 14.7M |
FIN | FIN RESOURCES | 0.384615384615 | 0.018 | 5.3M |
EHX | EHR RESOURCES | 0.379310344828 | 0.04 | 5.1M |
AD1 | APPLYDIRECT | 0.333333333333 | 0.04 | 9.7M |
TSN | TRANSACTION SOLU | 0.333333333333 | 0.008 | 15.2M |
STC | SINETECH | 0.333333333333 | 0.004 | 2.8M |
PWN | PARKWAY MINERALS | 0.333333333333 | 0.008 | 5.4M |
BAS | BASS OIL | 0.333333333333 | 0.004 | 10.4M |
LKE | LAKE RESOURCES | 0.326530612245 | 0.13 | 43.2M |
GTR | GTI RESOURCES | 0.307692307692 | 0.017 | 2.1M |
PEX | PEEL MINING | 0.30303030303 | 0.43 | 95.3M |
HNR | HANNANS | 0.3 | 0.013 | 25.8M |
TTW | TOPTUNG | 0.289473684211 | 0.049 | 10.1M |
MEI | METEORIC RESOURC | 0.285714285714 | 0.018 | 8.0M |
CCE | CARNEGIE CLEAN E | 0.285714285714 | 0.009 | 20.2M |
MWR | MGM WIRELESS | 0.251269035533 | 4.93 | 53.3M |
SI6 | SIX SIGMA METALS | 0.25 | 0.005 | 2.3M |
MSR | MANAS RESOURCES | 0.25 | 0.005 | 10.6M |
LRS | LATIN RESOURCES | 0.25 | 0.005 | 11.4M |
MRR | MINREX RESOURCES | 0.25 | 0.03 | 2.9M |
AL8 | ALDERAN RESOURCE | 0.2 | 0.21 | 28.5M |
ISD | ISENTIA GROUP | 0.191489361702 | 0.28 | 61.0M |
Factor Therapeutics (ASX:FTT) lost pretty much all its value this week after a failed clinical trial.
The biotech’s bosses say they are yet to make a decision on whether the company will be wound up, but all options are on the table after a 97 per cent drop in the shares to 0.2c.
Factoe was testing its wound-dressing drug VF001 to treat venous leg ulcers. The business is now capped at just $1.7 million. More than $59 million was wiped from the stock the second the market opened.
Outgoing CEO Dr Rosalind Wilson and chairman Dr Cherrell Hirst spoke to investors on a conference call after the news hit, telling investors their immediate focus was to halt all of the company’s activities as soon as possible.
Elsewhere, Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) also had a shocking week after losing a significant claim against big pharma company Mylan.
The stock lost 92 per cent to 0.2c.
Phosphagenics has a patented drug delivery system called targeted penetration matrix, which is based on Vitamin E and is aimed at improving the effectiveness of human and animal health products.
It had been suing a Mylan subsidiary for allegedly failing to uphold research and licensing agreements.
Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks for Nov 9-16:
Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort
ASX code | Company | One-week price change | Price Nov 9 | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|
FTT | FACTOR THERAPEUT | -0.971830985915 | 0.002 | 2.5M |
POH | PHOSPHAGENICS | -0.923076923077 | 0.002 | 4.7M |
AHK | ARK MINES | -0.641791044776 | 0.024 | 1.1M |
IOT | IOT GROUP | -0.5 | 0.001 | 1.7M |
BPH | BPH ENERGY | -0.5 | 0.001 | 1.2M |
SKN | SKIN ELEMENTS | -0.42 | 0.029 | 5.0M |
OXX | OCTANEX | -0.4 | 0.006 | 1.6M |
AFA | ASF GROUP | -0.354838709677 | 0.1 | 105.0M |
NTD | NATIONAL TYRE & | -0.351648351648 | 0.59 | 60.6M |
QGL | QUANTUM GRAPHITE | -0.333333333333 | 0.002 | 15.0M |
NVO | NVOI | -0.333333333333 | 0.008 | 3.7M |
EMP | EMPEROR ENERGY L | -0.333333333333 | 0.002 | 1.8M |
CGN | CRATER GOLD MINI | -0.333333333333 | 0.02 | 5.6M |
ABV | ADVANCED BRAKING | -0.333333333333 | 0.002 | 7.4M |
CA8 | COASSETS | -0.310344827586 | 0.1 | 20.5M |
CHK | COHIBA MINERALS | -0.285714285714 | 0.005 | 3.1M |
OPN | OPENDNA | -0.275 | 0.029 | 4.6M |
MLD | MACA | -0.273858921162 | 0.875 | 233.2M |
FE8 | FASTER ENTERPRIS | -0.263157894737 | 0.028 | 3.1M |
MZI | MZI RESOURCES | -0.257575757576 | 0.049 | 15.3M |
CXU | CAULDRON ENERGY | -0.257142857143 | 0.026 | 13.2M |
CAG | CAPE RANGE | -0.252083333333 | 1.795 | 160.6M |
CCG | COMMSCHOICE GROU | -0.25 | 0.06 | 6.5M |
TPD | TALON PETROLEUM | -0.25 | 0.003 | 3.8M |
SRO | SHAREROOT | -0.25 | 0.003 | 4.7M |
NSE | NEW STANDARD ENE | -0.25 | 0.003 | 2.4M |
MLS | METALS AUSTRALIA | -0.25 | 0.003 | 7.0M |
BLY | BOART LONGYEAR L | -0.25 | 0.003 | 78.9M |
ARO | ASTRO RESOURCES | -0.25 | 0.003 | 2.7M |
VN8 | VONEX | -0.241379310345 | 0.11 | 16.2M |