On Stockhead today, Guy Le Page ponders a ban on Russian copper, where James Whelan looks when things turn bullish, and here’s that palladium ETF you’ve been looking for.

But first, the day ahead.

Local stocks look set to start strongly, with ASX futures pointing 1% higher ahead of the opening bell.

But it was a negative session on Wall Street overnight, as bond yields jumped after US Fed chair Jerome Powell raised the prospect of multiple ‘double-shot’ (50 basis point) rate hikes in 2022, adding that the first one could come as early as May.

Elsewhere it’s a relatively quiet day locally, with RBA governor Philip Lowe scheduled to make an appearance at the Walkley Awards for Business Journalism (12pm AEDT).

TRADING HALTS

The following companies went into trading halts yesterday, and are expected out in the next few days:

Carnarvon Energy (ASX:CVN) – Announcement in relation to results at its Pavo-1 well.

Los Cerros Limited (ASX:LCL) – Pending release of a maiden JORC compliant Mineral Resource for its Tesorito Gold Porphyry.

MARKETS (updated at 8am AEDT)

Gold: $US1,935.39 (+0.74%)

Silver: $US25.18 (+0.92%%)

Oil (WTI): $US112.60 (+7.55%)

Oil (Brent): $US116.63 (+8.06%)

Aust Coking Coal (steelmaking): $628/t (-1%)

Newcastle Coal (thermal): $340/t (-1.7%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US150.47 (-0.08%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7396 (-0.05%)

Bitcoin: $US41,205 (-0.20%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

Blockchain Week 2022 is underway, and yesterday saw the launch of major global crypto exchange FTX in Australia, as well as an interview with high-profile crypto investor Mike Novogratz.

There was also plenty of interest in the latest round of winners among the ASX’s cohort of junior explorers, including a rare earths discovery ‘confirmed’ in WA.

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

Also, be sure to check in at 10.20am each day for our daily ‘10 at 10’ column — a live summary of winners & losers at the opening bell.

YESTERDAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP WINNERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day.)

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Frontier Resources (ASX:FNT) jumped a cool 30% yesterday morning after digging up some fab, top-notch rare earths inside rock chip assays at its Gascoyne project in WA.

And Ardea Resources (ASX:ARL) did the same after its Kalgoorlie nickel project secured Major Project Status from the Australian government.

YESTERDAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP LOSERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow fell after making announcements during the trading day.)

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