It’s Friyay, but Asian markets are trading cautiously to end the week.

It follows news that authorities in Beijing are expected to table a new “security law” for Hong Kong, following widespread protests against China’s efforts to expand control in the region.

Stocks in Hong Kong fell more than 2 per cent in morning trade, amid concern about the further erosion of freedoms in the semi-autonomous territory.

It follows another war of words between Beijing and the Trump administration this week, along with escalating trade tensions with Australia.

With geopolitical tensions adding to an uncertain outlook for the global economy, the ASX200 traded flat this morning before edging slightly lower into midday trade.

As has typically been the case in recent days, the Small Ords Index outperformed to post a 0.4 per cent intra-day gain.

 

WINNERS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Friday May 22:

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CODE COMPANY PRICE CHANGE MARKET CAP
ANP Antisense Therapeutics 0.07 45.83% $33.2M
KTE K2 Energy Ltd 0.016 33.33% $4.8M
NEW Norwest Energy NL 0.004 33.33% $14.2M
TKL Traka Resources Ltd 0.008 33.33% $2.4M
CAV Carnavale Resources Ltd 0.004 33.33% $4.5M
MTH Mithril Resources 0.013 30.00% $9.0M
ADY Admiralty Resources 0.013 30.00% $11.6M
FCT Firstwave Cloud 0.07 29.63% $19.6M
BLU Blue Energy 0.033 26.92% $34.5M
KLO Kingsland Global Ltd 0.075 25.00% $24.3M
CYG Coventry Resources 0.03 25.00% $60.2M
RMX Red Mountain Mining 0.005 25.00% $3.5M
CML Chase Mining 0.016 23.08% $2.7M
AGE Alligator Energy Ltd 0.009 21.43% $10.0M
ID8 Identitii 0.115 21.05% $7.8M
MRG Murray River Organics 0.018 20.00% $33.1M
GSN Great Southern Mining 0.09 20.00% $30.3M
GEV Global Energy Ventures 0.006 20.00% $23.7M
BUD Buddy Platform 0.015 19.23% $33.4M
WNB Wellness Beauty Solutions 0.009 18.75% $11.4M
GSM Golden State Mining 0.225 18.42% $7.7M
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Biotech stock Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) was the big winner in morning trade after some strong results in a phase two clinical trial.

Antisense said its treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a disease which afflicts young boys and causes muscles to breakdown, was shown to be safe and effective.

The company is now in discussions to advance phase 2b trials, which if successful could lead to conditional approval for the drug. Rachel Williamson has more here.

 

LOSERS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks at 12pm Friday May 22:

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CODE COMPANY PRICE CHANGE MARKET CAP
FGO Flamingo AI 0.001 -33.33% $1.2M
ROG Red Sky Energy 0.001 -33.33% $1.6M
VIC Victory Mines 0.001 -33.33% $3.1M
XPE XPED 0.001 -33.33% $2.6M
SRN Surefire Resources 0.003 -25.00% $1.9M
CLZ Classic Minerals Ltd 0.002 -25.00% $8.2M
RFN Reffind Ltd 0.002 -20.00% $2.1M
SBR Sabre Resources Ltd 0.002 -20.00% $1.7M
POW Protean Energy 0.005 -16.67% $1.6M
NAE New Age Exploration Ltd 0.005 -16.67% $3.6M
RNE Renu Energy 0.016 -15.79% $1.9M
THR Thor Mining DRC 0.006 -14.29% $4.5M
CRO Cirralto 0.003 -14.29% $2.5M
GTG Genetic Technologies Ltd 0.006 -14.29% $30.7M
SHK Stone Resources Australia 0.006 -14.29% $5.0M
MWR MGM Wireless Ltd 0.13 -13.33% $18.4M
COY Coppermoly Ltd 0.007 -12.50% $14.9M
ARD Argent Minerals Ltd 0.015 -11.76% $9.5M
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