Small caps have dropped for a second day in a row, although their decline wasn’t as severe as that on the larger end of the market.

The Small Ordinaries index finished Monday down 12.1 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 3,075.1, while the ASX20 blue chip index fell 1.05 per cent to 3,708.1.

The Emerging Companies nano-cap index declined by 1.48 per cent, to 2,026.1.

Sectors were mixed with consumer discretionary, health care, tech and telecom stocks collectively edging higher and the ASX’s seven other sectors declining.

Mining was the worst performer, falling 1.9 per cent as BHP drooped 2.9 per cent to $45.45.

Superior Resources (ASX:SPQ) was one of the best performers, rising 42.9 per cent to 2c after releasing “spectacular” drilling results at its Steam Engine Gold Deposit 210km west of Townsville, Queensland.

Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX:CHM) had a successful ASX debut, with its stock trading as high as 37.5c after its 20c-per-share IPO raised $35 million. CHM stock closed the day at 29.5c.

Elsewhere on the market:

Announcements

– Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) declined 0.4 per cent to $26.65 after Australia’s largest natural gas producer agreed to double the LNG it supplies to Uniper Global Commodities SE, provided Woodside’s Scarborough gas project off the coast of Western Australia goes ahead. Woodside is due to make a final investment decision on the $16 billion in the first half of 2021.

– JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH)  gained 3.8 per cent to $52.70 after the electronics retailer announced that its unaudited half-year profit had jumped 86.2 per cent to $317.7 million, thanks to strong online sales during the lockdowns and a well-executed Black Friday promotional period. Australian same-store sales at JB Hi-Fi stores were up 24.2 per cent to $3.3 billion, compared to a year ago, the company said.

– Super Retail Group (ASX:SUL) fell 1.0 per cent to $11.63 after the Rebel Sports, Supercheap Auto and Macpac owner announced first-half sales growth of 23 per cent, notwithstanding the closure of 94 stores in Melbourne and 21 stores in Auckland during the coronavirus lockdowns. Online sales were up 87 per cent to $237 million, representing 13 per cent of all sales.

– PolyNovo (ASX:PNV) declined 2.8 per cent to $2.47 after the regenerative medicine company answered an ASX aware query about its January 12 trading update that caused Polynovo stock to fall. Polynovo said its month-to-month sales are always highly variable and that sales of some PNV stock by company directors back in December followed corporate policy.

– Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA) announced a historic diamond drill core from its Minos Prospect had been discovered at the SA Core Reference Library located in Tonsley. The company said it has received permission from the core library to cut and sample the core, and expects to receive results in two to three weeks.

Trading halts

Tuesday:

Energy Technologies (ASX:EGY) – grant news
Anova Metals (ASX:AWV) – exploration results
Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) – test work results

Wednesday: 

Australian Primary Hemp (ASX:APH) – capital raising and contract
Red Mountain Mining (ASX:RMX) – capital raising
European Lithium (ASX:EUR) – capital raising
Norwest Energy (ASX:NWE) – capital raising
Pensana Rare Earths (ASX:PM8) – delisting application
Red Sky Energy (ASX:ROG) – capital raising
Theta Gold Mines (ASX:TGM) – investment
Delecta (ASX:DLC) – acquisition
Venture Minerals (ASX:VMS) – capital raising
Tao Commodities (ASX:TAO) – capital raising

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