Last Orders: ASX falls despite strong jobs data

The ASX plummeted into the red today despite positive jobs data out of the ABS, which showed unemployment falling for the seventh straight month to 5.1% while 115,000 jobs were added.

This job growth was offset by the growing COVID outbreak in Sydney as well as an indication from the Federal Reserve that interest rates in the US could rise twice by 2023.

Resources, energy, telcos and consumer staples were in the red, losing over 1.5% and pulling the ASX 200 down 0.37% to 7,359 points.

The ASX Emerging Companies Index fell by over 1% again – closing at 2,128 points – and has now lost a cumulative 4 per cent this week.

Tech stocks were one of the bright spots on the ASX, rising 1.26%, followed by financials, which gained 0.78%.

The top stock with news was fertiliser company Fertoz (ASX:FTZ), which announced results of a field report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY’VE MISSED

One of the few stocks involved in plant-based proteins, Wide Open Agriculture (ASX:WOA), announced it was building a pilot manufacturing facility in WA. The company says initial construction will cost $1.6 million.

Data centre operator DC Two (ASX:DC2) signed a deal worth $926,376 to provide services for an unnamed cryptocurrency miner. The company says it sees an opportunity to pursue further crypto customers, arguing operational costs and environmental impacts could be reduced if data centres were located ‘behind the meter’ at renewable power sites.

Fe (ASX:FEL) announced a deal to sell its Pilbara exploration tenements to Mercury Resources Group and recently listed Global Lithium (ASX:GL1). Chairman Tony Sage said the transaction was consistent with his company’s desire to focus efforts and funds on its advanced iron projects.

Coal miner Whitehaven (ASX:WHC) fell after a fourth production downgrade for 2021. This time the company blames lower production at its Narrabri mine, which experienced a geological event and is undergoing engineering works.

Chinese real estate developer Lionhub (ASX:LHB) announced plans to delist from the ASX. The company argued the obligations and costs associated with an ASX listing were no longer justified in light of being suspended since February 2020 and not currently having any tangible nexus with Australia.

4D Medical (ASX:4DX) received a US$600,000 purchase order for a preclinical scanner from the University of Michigan. The company’s XV lung imaging technology will be integrated into existing scanners and be used to analyse respiratory data.

Spacetalk (ASX:SPA) announced it would be selling its smartwatches through Woolworths Mobile. Woolworths will also use the watch to incentivise shopping, letting customers be eligible for 10 per cent off their grocery shop once a month.

Among pot stocks, Little Green Pharma (ASX:LGP) appointed a distribution partner for Poland and Bod Australia (ASX:BOD) announced two new UK websites would sell its CBD-based products.