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Closing Bell: ASX trades flat as two battery metal stocks return from ASX purgatory
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Resources stocks Quantum Graphite (ASX:QGL) and Altura Mining (ASX:AJM) were reinstated after being suspended for several months and had contrasting fates.
Quantum Graphite, which has the ‘Uley’ graphite prokect in South Australia, more than tripled. But Altura, which has lithium operations in the Pilbara, closed at a 76% discount to its last trading day.
The ASX 200 mostly traded downwards today, ultimately closing a whisker lower than yesterday – at 7,378 points.
Consumer staples fell nearly 4%, mainly thanks to Woolworths (ASX:WOW) cutting earnings guidance. Most other sectors were positive but property stocks notched up a gain above 1%.
TODAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP WINNERS
(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day).
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Company | Price | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QGL | Quantum Graphite | 0.155 | 204 | 2505648 |
| VRT | Virtus Health Ltd | 7.01 | 35 | 19550851 |
| PCL | Pancontinental Energ | 0.002 | 33 | 149187946 |
| TMS | Tennant Minerals Ltd | 0.033 | 32 | 7313695 |
| XAM | Xanadu Mines Ltd | 0.033 | 27 | 6369006 |
| HPC | Thehydration | 0.355 | 22 | 3213310 |
| GMR | Golden Rim Resources | 0.105 | 18 | 2481413 |
| 3DP | Pointerra Limited | 0.405 | 17 | 2527180 |
| SIT | Site Group Int Ltd | 0.007 | 17 | 1455000 |
| HGO | Hillgrove Res Ltd | 0.064 | 16 | 12478466 |
| PNV | Polynovo Limited | 1.57 | 15 | 6955216 |
| EIQ | Echoiq Ltd | 0.155 | 15 | 624742 |
| ICN | Icon Energy Limited | 0.016 | 14 | 204503 |
| RIM | Rimfire Pacific | 0.008 | 14 | 582423 |
| BKY | Berkeley Energia Ltd | 0.16 | 14 | 516151 |
| KPO | Kalina Power Limited | 0.024 | 14 | 1897946 |
| EQR | Eq Resources Limited | 0.057 | 14 | 8724090 |
| WTL | Wt Financial Grp Ltd | 0.09 | 14 | 341093 |
| KZR | Kalamazoo Resources | 0.385 | 13 | 463030 |
| E25 | Element 25 Ltd | 1.205 | 13 | 326321 |
| AXP | AXP Energy Ltd | 0.009 | 13 | 5721345 |
| TPD | Talon Energy Ltd | 0.009 | 13 | 9736140 |
| XRG | Xreality Group Ltd | 0.065 | 12 | 1338466 |
Virtus Health (ASX:VRT) climbed off the back of a takeover bid from private equity group BGH this morning where it valued the company at $7.10 a share.
Geospatial cloud-based data-as-a-service company, Pointerra (ASX:3DP) unveiled some major contracts with new and existing US energy utility customers.
Medical device company PolyNovo (ASX:PNV) also rose in the wake of some good news out of the US, where it’s beefing up its sales team and reported monthly sales in November of US$1.97m, just off July’s record high of US$1.97m.
The Hydration Pharmaceuticals Company (ASX:HPC) gained over 20% on its ASX debut today.
TODAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP LOSERS
(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day).
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.
| Code | Company | Price | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJM | Altura Mining Ltd | 0.015 | -76 | 307852566 |
| CDD | Cardno Limited | 0.21 | -55 | 16531634 |
| CCE | Carnegie Cln Energy | 0.002 | -33 | 3094586 |
| VPR | Volt Power Group | 0.002 | -33 | 100000 |
| JAV | Javelin Minerals Ltd | 0.0015 | -25 | 2000000 |
| OEX | Oilex Ltd | 0.003 | -25 | 2104000 |
| EN1 | Engage:Bdr Limited | 0.002 | -20 | 833321 |
| MSB | Mesoblast Limited | 1.405 | -17 | 9666180 |
| RCP | Redbank Copper Ltd | 0.048 | -14 | 1196972 |
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.013 | -13 | 4953561 |
| ALM | Alma Metals Ltd | 0.034 | -13 | 449227 |
| RNX | Renegade Exploration | 0.007 | -13 | 4685686 |
| TRN | Torrens Mining | 0.175 | -13 | 963574 |
| SIX | Sprintex Ltd | 0.06 | -12 | 1492136 |
| TGN | Tungsten Min NL | 0.115 | -12 | 134610 |
| LCY | Legacy Iron Ore | 0.024 | -11 | 3321104 |
| MNB | Minbos Resources Ltd | 0.12 | -11 | 2877849 |
| PAK | Pacific American Hld | 0.016 | -11 | 802027 |
| PRM | Prominence Energy | 0.008 | -11 | 2352102 |
| ROG | Red Sky Energy. | 0.008 | -11 | 18060152 |
| TSC | Twenty Seven Co. Ltd | 0.004 | -11 | 3509260 |
| XST | Xstate Resources | 0.004 | -11 | 220000 |
Biotech Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) fell after telling shareholders Novartis was walking away from its agreement with the company to advance Mesoblast’s COVID-19 treatment candidate which had potential to be up to US$50 million.
ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY’VE MISSED
The takeover of Afterpay (ASX: APT) by Jack Dorsey led payments giant Square, now known as Block (NYSE:SQ), passed another hurdle with Afterpay shareholders approving the deal almost unanimously. Afterpay expects the deal to take effect in mid-January which will see shares in Block listed on the ASX.
Black Rock Mining (ASX:BKT), one of the few stocks to persist with graphite in Tanzania as an opportunity appears to be on good terms with the government – for now. The company signed a framework agreement with the Tanzanian government which includes a 16% free carried interest in its Mahenge deposit.
Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) has sold part of its royalties portfolio to Altus Strategies (AIM:AIS) and AlphaStream. The sale, which remains subject to financing being secured, will net US$37.5 million and covers 24 royalties including gold projects at Bonikro, South Kalgoorlie and Ballarat.
MACA (ASX:MLD) won a mining services contract for the Roy Hill iron ore operation in the Pilbara. The deal includes open pit mining services – including load, haul, drill and blast – will generate $70 million in revenue across 2022.
Beer brewer Mighty Craft (ASX:MCL) secured national ranging for its Better Beer brand and reported strong demand. It tips 3 million litres to be sold in FY22 which would make it one of the biggest mainstream beer launches of the year.
Alliance Aviation (ASX:AQZ) announced Qantas (ASX:QAN) expanded its wet lease agreement to cover a further two E190 aircraft to be delivered in late March 2022. This will take the total E190 aircraft delivered under the deal to ten and a further eight options remain available to be exercised.
And outside the ASX, Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC nominated Gina Cass-Gottleib as its new CEO to replace Rod Sims. She has been a Gilbert and Tobin competition regulation lawyer as well as a member of the RBA’s payment systems board and if her appointment is approved would be the first woman to head the ACCC.
TRADING HALTS
Wednesday
Paterson Resources (ASX:PSL) – drill results
MinRex Resources (ASX:MRR) – capital raising
Harvest Technology (ASX:HTG) – capital raising
Tamaska Oil and Gas (ASX:TMK) – acquisition
PolarX (ASX:PXX) – capital raising
Thor Mining (ASX:THR) – capital raising
Mighty Kingdom (ASX:MKL) – capital raising
Sacgasco (ASX:SGC) – acquisition of dataset
Queensland Pacific Metals (ASX:QPM) – capital raising
MOQ (ASX:MOQ) – trading outlook
Palla Pharma (ASX:PAL) – strategic review
Thursday
Credit Clear (ASX:CCR) – capital raising
IDT Australia (ASX:IDT) – response to government mRNA announcement
Shekel Brainweigh (ASX:SBW) – capital raising
333D (ASX:T3D) – capital raising
CSL (ASX:CSL) – capital raising and acquisition
PepinNini (ASX:PNN) – capital raising
BNK Banking (ASX:BBC) – divestment transaction
MA Financial (ASX:MAF) – acquisition
