US Fed Chair Jerome Powell gives a COVID-safe greeting. (Pic: Getty)
Closing Bell: A junior goldie surges 150pc, Evergrande jitters subside, and all eyes turn to the Fed
News
share
The ASX 200 had another positive session in Wednesday trade, rising 0.3% while the microcap Emerging Companies index came back from Monday’s big selloff to post a 2% gain.
The moves preceded this week’s marquee macro event, with the US Federal Reserve set to make its latest policy announcement tonight.
The focus is on the pace of the Fed’s tapering of its bond-purchase program, as well as the pace of future rate hikes. Get the full rundown here.
There were also two more IPOs (which both finished in positive territory) and a new ETF which joined the ASX today.
Elsewhere in markets, investors responded to news out of China that embattled property developer Evergrande will meet its next debt payment tomorrow, giving rise to hopes problems in Chinese real estate won’t create a contagion effect across global markets (for now).
TODAY’S BIGGEST WINNERS
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Company | Price | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMD | Genesis Minerals | 0.18 | 147% | 205,395,246 |
| OAK | Oakridge | 0.0015 | 50% | 4,229,768 |
| PNN | PepinNini Minerals | 0.435 | 45% | 10,385,328 |
| GGE | Grand Gulf Energy | 0.034 | 31% | 19,806,113 |
| NWE | Norwest Energy NL | 0.027 | 29% | 308,108,281 |
| EN1 | Engage:Bdr Limited | 0.005 | 25% | 6,339,222 |
| STN | Saturn Metals | 0.445 | 24% | 357,865 |
| WMG | Western Mines | 0.22 | 19% | 3,159,180 |
| CR1 | Constellation Res | 0.38 | 19% | 83,666 |
| MVP | Medical Developments | 4.99 | 19% | 856,027 |
| IXU | Ixup Limited | 0.16 | 19% | 22,254,074 |
| LKE | Lake Resources | 0.61 | 18% | 37,498,231 |
| CUL | Cullen Resources | 0.021 | 17% | 1,435,354 |
| PSC | Prospect Res Ltd | 0.42 | 17% | 2,503,525 |
| AUH | Austchina Holdings | 0.007 | 17% | 1,857,418 |
| TEG | Triangle Energy Ltd | 0.022 | 16% | 17,419,991 |
| TPD | Talon Energy Ltd | 0.011 | 16% | 136,315,004 |
| MPH | Mediland Pharm | 0.067 | 16% | 13,300 |
| GME | GME Resources Ltd | 0.07 | 15% | 121,886 |
| BRU | Buru Energy | 0.16 | 14% | 1,531,901 |
| AJL | AJ Lucas Group | 0.033 | 14% | 1,958,495 |
| ICI | Icandy Interactive | 0.083 | 14% | 4,777,554 |
| LCK | Leigh Crk Energy Ltd | 0.125 | 14% | 1,899,006 |
| NMR | Native Mineral Res | 0.25 | 14% | 81,983 |
| SRK | Strike Resources | 0.125 | 14% | 393,190 |
| RHY | Rhythm Biosciences | 1.32 | 12% | 658,839 |
Explorer Genesis Minerals (ASX:GMD) held its gains and was the standout performer all day, more than doubling after announcing a $20.8m funding package.
The money will be used to fund additional exploration and feasibility studies for GMD, which announced a gold intercept of 5m at 60.7 grams per tonne (g/t) from 265m at its 1.6Moz Ulysses project in May.
GMD’s capital raise will be cornerstoned by mining luminary Raleigh Finlayson, who will be joined on the board by former Fortescue boss Neville Power.
Among stocks with news, all the morning resources winners held their gains to populate the top end of today’s Closing Bell winner’s list. Get the full resources wrap here.
Outside of resources, biotech stock Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) was among the leaders after providing an update on the clinical trial for its ColoSTAT test kit used in the detection of colorectal cancer.
RHY said it’s enlisted 815 patients across 11 Australian sites for the trail for coloSTAT — a low-cost, simple blood test to early detect colorectal cancer, which is aimed at mass-market screening.
TODAY’S BIGGEST LOSERS
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Company | Price | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOO | Wooboard Tech Ltd | 0.001 | -50% | 1,459,943 |
| CCE | Carnegie Cln Energy | 0.002 | -33% | 15,799,242 |
| T3D | 333D Limited | 0.002 | -20% | 1,071,318 |
| BLU | Blue Energy Limited | 0.053 | -16% | 9,722,779 |
| AQC | Auspaccoal Ltd | 0.15 | -14% | 5,000 |
| TYX | Tyranna Res Ltd | 0.006 | -14% | 95,203 |
| NTL | New Talisman Gold | 0.002 | -14% | 51,747,649 |
| LCY | Legacy Iron Ore | 0.013 | -13% | 1,212,322 |
| MRL | Mayur Resources Ltd | 0.22 | -12% | 5,000 |
| LDX | Lumos Diagnostics | 0.955 | -12% | 1,616,472 |
| LNU | Linius Tech Limited | 0.024 | -11% | 4,005,079 |
| BEX | Bikeexchange Ltd | 0.16 | -11% | 195,438 |
| AEV | Avenira Limited | 0.008 | -11% | 111,135 |
| CZR | CZR Resources Ltd | 0.008 | -11% | 910,647 |
| TMK | Tamaska Oil Gas Ltd | 0.008 | -11% | 322,710 |
| GWR | GWR Group Ltd | 0.125 | -11% | 2,732,065 |
| PTR | Petratherm Ltd | 0.05 | -11% | 782,809 |
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.017 | -11% | 199,885 |
| CRL | Comet Resources | 0.026 | -10% | 55,297,234 |
| JPR | Jupiter Energy | 0.044 | -10% | 902,966 |
| SIH | Sihayo Gold Limited | 0.009 | -10% | 881,350 |
| QML | Qmines Limited | 0.295 | -9% | 74,760 |
| AQX | Alice Queen Ltd | 0.01 | -9% | 5,716,607 |
| CT1 | Constellation Tech | 0.01 | -9% | 3,558,921 |
| DDT | DataDot Technology | 0.01 | -9% | 4,904,111 |
Shares in Blue Energy (ASX:BLU) dipped after the company announced a $10m share placement at 5c per share, a discount to yesterday’s close of 6.6c.
BLU said it will use the funds to embark on a gas reserve build drilling program with the goal of converting its contingent resources into proved and probably gas reserves.
ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY’VE MISSED
After being suspended since May last year, Aura Energy (ASX:AEE) will recommence trading tomorrow with the ASX satisfied the company’s activities justified being listed. The company said the timing was perfect amidst the current action in the uranium market and declared its Tiris project was one of the most compelling uranium projects in the world today.
Kiwi insurance company Tower (ASX:TWR) cut its profit guidance from between $22m and $24m to between $19m and $21 million. The company blamed pressure from industry wide inflation but maintained it was in a strong capital and solvency position.
Fintech Douugh (ASX:DOU) announced plans to list on the OTCQB Venture market in the US. The company says the move is in response to requests from customers and investors in the US to purchase the stock and it believes a listing would support efforts to scale up operations.
Sustainable packaging materials company Secos (ASX:SES) signed up to a research project with the University of Queensland. The project will run for 12 months and involve the pair creating films with desired barrier properties and characteristics for application to food packaging.
WA telco Pentanet (ASX:5GG) launched the Beta Play phase of its cloud gaming service GeForce NOW. The company says this phase will run for a month and launch commercially thereafter.
While few exploration companies are near the epicentre of the Victorian earthquake one was White Rock Minerals (ASX:WML). It told shareholders while all personnel were safe and accounted for and there was no immediate signs of damage, the company has suspended underground activities until aftershocks have subsided and the site integrity was checked.
TRADING HALTS
Thursday
AusNet Services (ASX:AST) – response to APA announcement
TransUrban (ASX:TCL) – capital raising
Metals Australia (ASX:MLS) – capital raising
Technology Metals Australia (ASX:TMT) – capital raising
Friday
Jaxsta (ASX:JXT) – capital raising
State Gas (ASX:GAS) – capital raising
Threat Protect (ASX:TPS) – capital raising
