Rise and Shine: Everything you need to know about the ASX on Wednesday

It’s Wednesday on Stockhead.

To catch you up: The ASX200 ended last week quasi-somnambulant trading within a 1% range.

At lunchtime we face the all-important Australian Q1 2023 CPI data.

As last week’s April RBA board minutes implied (to me anyway), they all of them on that board retain a tightening bias and that puts this print riiiight in focus.

What to watch for: 

• Headline CPI is expected to increase by 1.3% in Q1 2023 for an annual rate of 6.9%
• Trimmed mean is expected to rise by 1.4% in Q1 2023 for an annual rate of 6.7%

Meantime, Reuben is being our golden madman, watching Gold Road Resources (ASX:GOR), Los Cerros (ASX:LCL)  and generally been digging like the digger he is.

We’re in India with India Avenue’s Mugunthan Siva to start getting real familiar with the world’s next wave of Mega Tech names.

But first the day ahead.

TRADING HALTS

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

Titanium Sands (ASX:TSL) – Announcement on the way about a material joint venture agreement.

Coppermoly (ASX:COY) – AGM decision results pending.

Resolution Minerals (ASX: RML) – Capital raising.

CardieX (ASX:CDX) – Announcement incoming regarding progress in relation to FDA approval for its Pulse device.

Tigers Realm Coal (ASX:TIG) – Announcement regarding a proposed privatisation and delisting of the company.

LawFinance (ASX:LAW) – Announcement by LAW in connection with its existing debt facilities and the funding transaction and debt restructure.

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: $US1982.03 (-1.11%)

Silver: $US25.01 (-0.92%)

Nickel (3mth): $US24,025/t (+2.02%)

Copper (3mth): $US9002.50/t (+0.27%)

Oil (WTI): $US77.71 (-0.65%)

Oil (Brent): $US81.53 (+0.97%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US120.00/t (0.00%)

AUD/USD: 0.6690 (-0.74%)

Bitcoin: $US27,586 (-1.10%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING?

This should get you cryptonites reading –  as the Chinese authorities begin to turn your crypto into their property…

Chain Reactions: Hong Kong classifies crypto as ‘property’; Bitcoin ‘halving’ anticipation grows, notes @SwyftxAU. #btc #crypto Stockhead > https://t.co/B1Bswx3Vkh pic.twitter.com/tPWW2I4eIs

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) April 24, 2023

Actually, here’s Emma’s from last week. A great read if you’re fond of copper.

– #Copper M&A is rampant with large caps like BHP looking to secure future supply
– Middle tier copper companies have disappeared before our eyes
– Here are 7 #ASX small cap #copper explorers next in line to reach mid-tier status https://t.co/SgBhfJsZpD

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) April 21, 2023

Also a great read – Nadine McGrath’s Meet the Prees (producers of rare earths)

Australia is becoming a powerhouse producer of rare earths and critical minerals but several #ASX companies are also making the most of downstream opportunities in battery tech. So just what are the likes of @AltechBatteries and @neometalsltd doing? https://t.co/NZ9tnbyie2 pic.twitter.com/nZXXkYUDXC

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) April 20, 2023

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:

The big winner for Monday was Larvotto Resources (ASX:LRV), up some 60%, continuing its climb following strong exploration results from its Merivale South REE prospect.

The explorer last week reported high-grade clay rare earths drill results up to 1.26% (12,611ppm) at Merivale South, part of the Eyre lithium-nickel-REE project in WA.

That 1m intercept was within a larger 12m at 2326ppm TREO, and the company says the mineralisation may be hosted within ionic clays, making it suitable for simple, cost-effective extraction. Testwork to confirm this theory is currently underway.

Next best was Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG), which has been something of a market darling in recent times – a status further cemented by the company’s 42% Monday session.

WMG is up over 400% for the month.

And gold explorer MetalsTech (ASX:MTC), jumped by a full third on absolutely no news, but close to a 10x surge in volume for the day.

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: