Lunchtime ASX small cap wrap: Who's getting on a war footing against the virus today?

ASX stocks have made a positive start to the week, as markets tread water while the global corona crisis continues to escalate.

It follows a weak lead from the S&P500 on Friday night, but as has often been the case since the COVID-19 selloff began, the price action in US markets hasn’t flowed through to the ASX open like it usually does.

As for the health crisis itself, that shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told Americans to prepare for another tough week, as the death toll in major centres continued to climb sharply.

And US surgeon general Jerome Adams invoked both Pearl Harbor and 9/11 in a public address to US citizens, where he said the week ahead would be one of their “hardest and saddest”.

And across the pond, Queen Elizabeth harkened back to Royal Family broadcasts during World War II as she encouraged Britons to show unity and resolve in an address to the nation overnight.

Back on local markets, the ASX climbed to 5,192.60 points into midday trade — good enough for a gain of 2.44 per cent. The Small Ords index was up 2.2 per cent at 2,140.60 points.

WINNERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Monday April 6:

Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.

CODE	COMPANY	PRICE	% CHANGE	MARKET CAP
TOU	Tlou Energy Ltd	0.082	105.00%	$18.0M
UUV	UUV Aquabotix	0.002	100.00%	$682K
QGL	Quantum Graphite	0.031	47.62%	$4.6M
MSG	MCS Services Ltd	0.014	40.00%	$1.9M
LMG	Latrobe Magnesium Ltd	0.008	33.33%	$7.9M
PUR	Pursuit Minerals	0.004	33.33%	$1.1M
LCT	Living Cell Technologies	0.012	33.33%	$5.1M
SHO	Sportshero	0.004	33.33%	$1.3M
SKN	Skin Elements	0.047	30.56%	$15.9M
3DA	Amaero Intl	0.13	31.31%	$22.7M
LIT	Lithium Australia	0.053	35.90%	$29.6M
FEL	Fe Ltd	0.013	30.00%	$6.4M
CNB	Carnaby Resources	0.045	28.57%	$4.3M
MSB	Mesoblast	1.73	28.62%	$924.1M
ADY	Admiralty Resources	0.005	25.00%	$5.8M
BNL	Big Star Energy	0.005	25.00%	$2.9M
ARE	Argonaut Resources N L	0.005	25.00%	$7.9M
CE1	Calima Energy	0.005	25.00%	$10.8M
EXL	Elixinol Global	0.34	23.64%	$37.9M
MWY	MGM Wireless Ltd	0.105	23.53%	$12.1M
MDC	Medlab Clinical Ltd	0.29	23.40%	$54.8M
PKO	Peako	0.011	22.22%	$1.1M
HMD	HeraMED	0.165	22.22%	$14.0M

Tlou Energy Limited (ASX:TOU)

It was a big morning for the Botswana-based energy producer, which is also listed on London’s secondary AIM exchange and the Botswana Stock Exchange.

The company announced it had reached an interim agreement with the Botswana Power Corporation for a 2 megawatt power purchase agreement. Shares in Tlou doubled in morning trade.

LOSERS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Monday April 6:

Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.

CODE	COMPANY	PRICE	% CHANGE	MARKET CAP
AYR	Alloy Resources Ltd	0.001	-33.33%	$2.3M
MPH	Mediland Pharm	0.1	-33.33%	$31.3M
HPR	High Peak Royalties Ltd	0.06	-33.33%	$17.0M
SI6	Six Sigma Metals	0.001	-33.33%	$645K
ICU	Isentric Ltd	0.006	-33.33%	$1.2M
AVE	Avecho Bio	0.002	-20.00%	$3.2M
BOA	Boadicea Resources Ltd	0.18	-18.18%	$12.2M
VMT	Vmoto Ltd	0.145	-17.14%	$39.8M
BAT	Battery Minerals	0.005	-16.67%	$7.9M
AHL	Ahalife Holdings	0.005	-16.67%	$8.0M
TGO	Trimantium Growthops	0.05	-16.67%	$9.1M
ATP	Atlas Pearls and Perfumes	0.005	-16.67%	$2.6M
VRC	Volt Resources	0.005	-16.67%	$10.4M
ITG	Intega	0.18	-18.18%	$98.0M
MLL	Birimian	0.047	-14.55%	$14.9M
MEB	Medibio Ltd	0.006	-14.29%	$6.0M
MAY	Melbana Energy	0.003	-14.29%	$7.0M
BBL	Brisbane Broncos Ltd	0.35	-12.50%	$34.3M