Closing Bell: Tech and Crown shares lead ASX to another day in the green

The ASX finished in the green by just 0.03%.

Today’s gain was spurred by a 1.34% rally in tech shares as well as a rally in Crown (ASX:CWN) shares in the wash-up of the Victorian government’s royal commission.

Despite the report finding the casino was not worthy to hold a license, it will be given 2 years to clean up its act under government supervision.

Today saw the largest IPO for many years in asset manager GQG Partners (ASX:GQG). It initially gained up to 5% on debut but closed at $1.98 – a slight discount to its $2 IPO price.

TODAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP WINNERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day).

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Bluechiip (ASX:BCT), a company developing a tracking technology designed for medical samples stored at sub-zero temperatures, signed a licence and development agreement with Fujifilm Irvine Scientific.

In resources, magnesium hopeful Korab Resources (ASX:KOR) rose despite not having any news, leading to trading being paused. Emmerson Resources (ASX:ERM) meanwhile did have news – in the form of visible copper intersections at its Tennant Creek project.

Camplify (ASX:CHL), a campervan and motorhome sharing community which has more than tripled since listing in June, announced a $7m+ acquisition deal. It is buying the Mighway and SHAREaCAMPER businesses and assets in Australia and New Zealand.

TODAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP LOSERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day).

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Medibio (ASX:MEB) fell after updating shareholders on its path to get FDA approval for its technology used to diagnose sleep disorders, announcing it was pivoting to another pathway to regulatory clearance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Metal Hawk (ASX:MHK) signed an option agreement to purchase the nickel rights from Horizon Minerals (ASX:HRZ) on 12 granted tenements which are part of the Berehaven nickel project. Metal Hawk will says it will begin a regional exploration campaign shortly.

Neometals (ASX:NMT) says its Primobius joint venture company completed commissioning of its lithium-ion battery recycling demonstration plant. It will begin EV cell processing demonstration trials next month.

Swoop Telecommunications (ASX:SWP) announced another acquisition, in wholesale voice service provider VoiceHub. Swoop will pay $6 million, funded from existing cash reserves.

Still with acquisitions, Reliance (ASX:RWC) is buying plumbing supplies business EZ-FLO for US$325 million in a deal that Reliance says will accelerate its growth in North America.

Nova Eye Medical (ASX:EYE) has had its COVID-19 stimulus loan from the US government forgiven. The company spent the US$1,068,000 on payroll costs and other expenses to maintain compensation levels when COVID-19 first broke out.

Suncorp (ASX:SUN) estimates natural hazard claims incurred since July 1 could impact the company by up to $492 million. The most costly events included the hail in Coffs Harbour last week (costing up to $100 million) as well as the Victorian earthquake which could be up to $70 million.

TRADING HALTS

Wednesday

Bowen Coking Coal (ASX:BCB) – update on Bluff PCI Mine acquisition
Sparc Technologies (ASX:SPN) – capital raising
Electro Optic Systems (ASX:EOS) – earnings downgrade
Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) – exploration update
Tesoro Resources (ASX:TSO) – capital raising
Chase Mining (ASX:CML) – capital raising
Impedimed (ASX:IPD) – capital raising

Thursday

Centrex Metals (ASX:CXM) – capital raising
BIR Financial (ASX:BIR) – corporate transaction
Gold Road Resources (ASX:GOR) – ore reserve increase
Toys”R”Us (ASX:TOY) – new contract
Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) – capital raising
West African Resources (ASX:WAF) – acquisition and capital raising