Rise and Shine: Everything you need to know before the ASX opens

Good morning and welcome to Thursday, the start of the downhill run into the weekend and the sweet, blessed embrace of having to do all that stuff you’ve been putting off “until the weekend”, so that you can put it off again because “my weekends are mine and I don’t want to deal with anything difficult, thankyouverymuch”.

It’s been a big week of data from the ABS so far, which – coupled with the RBA’s expected decision to keep rates on hold – has caused more than a ripple of volatility through local markets.

And today, we’re expecting the ABS to deliver its International Trade in Goods and Services report, which will give us more crucial insight into how our imports and exports are working, as well as a teensy window into the inner workings of our global neighbours as well.

But before that data bores you to sleep, we’ve got a ton of stuff for you to digest before the markets open here, including Guy le Page’s regular look at what’s shaking in the world of rocks. And this week it’s his worst case scenario for Chalice…

Plus, Christian’s had a chat with Morningstar’s Kingpin of Stock Study, Brian Han, for his $0.02 on what stocks are looking hot today, and Nadine McGrath’s penned a great piece on which Aussie finance providers make up the only 5 locals with B Corp certification.

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: US$1,917.78 (-0.42%)

Silver: US$23.15 (-1.60%)

Nickel (3mth): US$20,535/t (-2.40%)

Copper (3mth): US$8,361.50/t (-1.48%)

Oil (WTI): US$87.75  (+1.22%)

Oil (Brent): US$90.77 (+0.82%)

Iron 62pc Fe: US$118.97/t (+1.57%)

AUD/USD: 0.6382  (+0.1%)

Bitcoin: US$25,740 (+0.07%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING

Our deep dive into how the ‘other’ battery metals are faring as China’s EV economy battles on had a lot of you swapping goss around the watercooler yesterday.

For all the talk of developing #supply chains outside #China, the #battery and #EV business is very much a China story for now. https://t.co/Nd7WwAJ5x1

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) September 6, 2023

YESTERDAY’S ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks:

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

Yesterday’s Small Caps standouts were:

Absolute energy minnow Carnegie Clean Energy (ASX:CCE), has jumped on news that it’s inked a juicy contract with Ireland that will see its CETO wave energy tech installed there by mid-2025.

CCE says that its CETO Wave Energy Ireland (CWEI) subsidiary has been awarded a €3.75 million contract to build and operate a CETO wave energy converter at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform in the Basque Country, Spain and will deliver power to the grid.

The Consumer Cyclical company Live Verdure (ASX:LV1) has snagged commitments for a $1.68 million placement from new and existing sophisticated shareholders.

The funds raised will be used for “new product development, fund working capital requirements for large retail partnerships and to further accelerate the Company’s growth through investment in sales, marketing, and inventory initiatives,” LV1 says.

Elsewhere, Boadicea Resources (ASX:BOA) climbed on no news while a number of other goldies including Austral Gold (ASX:AGD) and Gold 50 (ASX:G50) are showing significant jumps as well, gold always being fun to watch.

YESTERDAY’S ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks:

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

TRADING HALTS

Matsa Resources (ASX:MAT) – Pending an announcement in relation to a Feasibility Study for the Devon Joint Venture project.