Small caps have had their best day in three weeks, breaking a two-day losing streak and setting a fresh nine and a half month high.

The Small Ordinaries index of 100 small caps closed Tuesday up 1.26 per cent to 3,053.5, its best closing level since February 21. Tuesday was the best day for the index since November 11.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 1.08 per cent to 6,588.5, while the S&P/ASX Emerging Companies microcap index rose 0.49 per cent to 1,891.5.

McPherson’s (ASX:MCP) was the biggest loser on Tuesday, diving 35.5 per cent to $1.195 after the health, wellness and beauty products supplier withdrew its FY21 guidance, announcing that its 11/11 “Single’s Day” sales event in China had performed below expectations and left its joint venture partner Access Brand Management with excess inventory levels of Dr. LeWinn’s skincare products.

Announcements

SenSen (ASX:SNS) gained 27.3 per cent to 14c after the Melbourne-based AI solutions provider announced it had agreed to acquire Snap Network Surveillance, a private company based in Adelaide that it says is a world leader in AI-powered multi-camera tracking software. SenSen is paying $1 million for the company and its intellectual property, and plans to use it to release a new product with the ability to track people through a large-scale video surveillance network.

Emerge Gaming (ASX:EM1) responded to an ASX query about a rapid rise in pre-registrations for its MIGGSTER gaming platform. Six million users pre-registered for the platform, and 925,000 of those have been invited to use the service. But just 6,279 of those had signed up as paying users, Emerge said. The ASX says its investigation is ongoing. EM1 shares are under suspension.

Apiam Animal Health (ASX:AHX) announced it had completed its $5 million acquisiton of Don Crosby Veterinary Surgeons, expanding the company’s presence in the region of Dubbo, NSW.

MyFiziq (ASX:MYQ) requested a trading halt “pending an announcement of a material commercial agreement with a global technology partner in a new field of on device diagnostics.”

Equus Mining (ASX:EQE) announced encouraging results from a drill program underway at its Cerro Bayo silver-gold project in Chile.

Trading halts

Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) – capital raising
Bard1 Life Sciences (ASX:BD1) – announcement clarification
Betmakers (ASX:BET) – capital raising
MyFiziq (ASX:MYQ) – commercial agreement
Element 25 (ASX:E25) – capital raising
Chalice Gold Mines (ASX:CHN) – capital raising
Food Revolution (ASX:FOD) – capital raising
Noxopharm (ASX:NOX) – capital raising