It’s Monday on Stockhead.

To catch you up:

The ASX/200 fell again on Friday, making it a straight flush of retreats for the week. The benchmark did however, close April out ahead.

An explosive week lies ahead for global markets, featuring central bank decisions at home in the States, in Brazil and for the EU.

Economists expect The Fed to raise one last time, but they know nothing, do they Jon Snow?

Meantime, worldwide nickel exploration hit a decade high last year  and it looks like M&A action is in the post with some mega pre-development resources outside the go to spots in Chinese-backed Indonesia.

Our Josh Chiat knows of some 20 companies, including ASX-listed players, that could make worthwhile takeover targets.

But first the day ahead.

TRADING HALTS

The following stocks went into trading halts Monday and are expected out in the coming days:

Alice Queen (ASX:AQX) –  Capital raising

Coolabah Metals (ASX:CBH) – Capital raising and acquisition

Riedel Resources (ASX:RIE)– Capital raising

Vanadium Resources (ASX:VR8) – Pending announcement on increase in Steelpoordrift Vanadium Project interest

Alliance Nickel – (ASX:AXN) – Pending announcement on material transaction

WA1 Resources (ASX:WA1) – Release of exploration results

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: $US1983.53 (-0.34%)

Silver: $US24.01 (-0.25%)

Nickel (3mth): $US24,025/t (+2.02%)

Copper (3mth): $US9002.50/t (+0.27%)

Oil (WTI): $US74.48 (+0.55%)

Oil (Brent): $US78.11 (+0.24%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US107.50/t (-0.94%)

AUD/USD: 0.6610 (+0.14%)

Bitcoin: $US29,100 (+0.24%)

 

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING?

Australian lithium in Europe… and in the Mid East.

Keep up to date with Stockhead coverage or you’ll miss gold like that EVERY DAY. Follow our Twitter page.

For all you crypto lovers Stockhead’s Coinhead Twitter is the place to share your views, insights, tips and ideas.

Also, be sure to check in preopen each day for ‘Market highlights and 5 ASX small caps to watch’, and 10.30am for our daily ‘10 at 10’ column — a live summary of winners & losers at the opening bell.

 

ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks:
Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort:

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Megaport (ASX:MP1) was the standout.  Up 40%.

 

ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS

Here are the least best performing ASX small cap stocks:

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

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Law firm Slater & Gordon (ASX:SGH) checked out and officially delisted from the ASX after close of trade Friday following the acquisition of its remaining securities by Wright Nominee Co Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegro Funds Pty Ltd.

The board of SGH unanimously backed a takeover offer from Sydney-based Allegro Funds in February that saw it acquire 100% of the company for ~$78 million.

Under the off-market takeover offer, shareholders receive 55 cents per share held based on the 141 million shares currently on issue, the majority of which were held by a consortium led by Anchorage Capital Partners.