Market Highlights and 5 ASX Small Caps to watch on Monday

Wall Street falls on weak job numbers

US stocks fell broadly on Friday, as non-farm payrolls increased by just 194,000 in September, compared to 235,000 in August and 500,000 in the survey.

The US unemployment rate however, fell to 4.8% which was a 19-month low.

All three US stock market benchmarks fell – with the Dow Jones down by 0.03%, the S&P 500 by 0.19% ,and tech heavy Nasdaq by 051%.

In other markets, global oil prices rose on Friday as the US Energy Department said that it had “no plans at this time” to tap into its reserves.

The benchmark spot Brent crude was up by 0.5% to US$82.39, the first time the US$80 a barrel price has been breached since 2014.

The spot iron ore price is staging a mini comeback, and was up by 6% on Friday to US$125.05.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin is surging again, and is trading at US$54,800 at 8:00am AEST this morning from the US$51,700 level on Friday.

To other crypto news, and the DeFi “blue chip” yearn.finance (YFI) has been double-digit pumping today, after announcing its “multi-chain expansion” to incorporate the Fantom (FTM) blockchain’s growing DeFi ecosystem.

ASX 200 to open lower on Monday

The ASX 200 looks set to tread water at the open this morning, with futures markets (December contracts) pointing down by 0.05% at 8:30am AEST.

The Aussie benchmark had a positive end to the week on Friday, with the ASX 200 gaining 0.87% and taking its weekly gain to 1.9%.

In acquisition news this morning, Ampol (ASX:ALD) will acquire 100% of Z Energy (ASX:ZEL) in a deal worth $NZ1.97 billion (or around A$1.86 billion). The Z Energy Board has unanimously approved the takeover proposal.

On the IPO front, set to list today at 2pm is Recharge Metals (ASX:REC), a mineral explorer that has raised $5m at 20c.

5 ASX small caps to watch today

Douugh (ASX:DOU)
The fintech company said it finished Q1 strongly, doubling its US customer base. The growth in users came as the company transitioned from a freemium model to a US$4.99 monthly membership fee model in the US.

Twenty Seven Co (ASX:TSC)
The company reported that numerous lithium bearing pegmatites have been visually identified at its 100% owned Trident Project in NSW. Current rock chip sampling program produced samples including: TriumphMine: 7.63% Li2O, and LadyDonMine: 4.45% Li2O.

Infinity Lithium (ASX:INF)
The company has received a positive ruling by a court in San Jose Spain, in favour of its project. The Contentious-Administrative Court in Cáceres has upheld its appeal against the City Council in relation to rehabilitation and restoration plans at San José. The Court ruled that the City Council resolution was “contrary to law”, and declared it null and void.

Blackearth Minerals (ASX:BEM)
Assay results have confirmed new high-grade graphite at the company’s Rafazy prospect in Madagascar. Best intersections include: 32.9m at 9.7% TGC (total graphite content) and 29.7m at 8.4% TGC.

Australian Potash (ASX:APC)
The company said its Lake Wells sulphate of potash suite of K-Brite products will start selling into the premium end of global SOP markets, after being granted certification by the Australian Certified Organic Standard.

At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Blackearth Minerals is a Stockhead advertisers, it did not sponsor this article.