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Good morning everyone, and welcome to 8 July June, 2024 – an important day in the history of the good ol’ American greed.

That’s because it was on this day in 1795 that a “true American patriot™” by the name of James Swan stepped in to sort out the United States’ foreign debt, which stood at $2,024,899 – covered out of pocket by Swan himself from his considerable personal fortune.

But, while that might look like the kind of incredible largesse required to earn the admiration and respect of the kind of people that find Being a Patriot impressive, the fact is that Swan did it for the most American reason of all… to make money.

Swan did so by selling off portions of the debt – at a small premium – to other individuals and organisations, who then collected on the debt, plus whatever interest had accrued over and above the premium paid to Swan.

He made money, they made money, America’s “foreign debt” became a domestic one, and everyone went about their day thinking Swan was a national hero, when in fact he was just using his position as one of the wealthiest people in the world to make even more money.

Luckily for you, you don’t need to be the richest, money-grubbing scumbag in America in order to get your hands on the info you need today because – as always – I’ve thrown together lots of fiddly little things below, so you don’t need to go ferreting all over the internet for your ASX info this morning.

 

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: US$2,390.90 (-0.26%)

Silver: US$31.34 (-1.09%)

Nickel (3mth): US$17,175/t (+1.23%)

Copper (3mth): US$9,809/t (+0.85%)

Zinc: US$2,954/t (+0.23%)

Oil (WTI): US$82.89 (-0.56%)

Oil (Brent): US$86.40 (-0.51%)

Iron 62pc Fe: US$111.31/t (0.00%)

AUD/USD: 0.6745 (-0.01%)

Bitcoin: US$55,769.40 (-0.71%)

 

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING

A few choice words of warning from Stockhead’s garimpeiro, Barry FitzGerald, on why you should think carefully about rumours of takeovers on the ASX.

 

 

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:

Wordpress Table Plugin

 

Yesterday’s Small Cap Winners included:

Rex Minerals (ASX:RXM) was the early flyer on Monday morning, no news that it’s entered a scheme implementation deed that will see MACH Metals Australia buy the entire company for $0.47 per Rex share – which is a huge premium of 79% to Rex’s 30-day VWAP2 and 98% to the 90-day VWAP, valuing the company at $393 million.

Gold Mountain (ASX:GMN)  was also moving quickly on Monday, on news that the company has received assays from regional stream sediment sampling with widespread anomalies that cover a total area of approximately 80km2, signalling potential for ultra-high grade hard rock monazite hosted REE-Nb-U-Sc mineralisation at its Down Under project.

Robotic technology company FBR (ASX:FBR) was up on news that its its first next-generation Hadrian X construction robot has arrived in the United States, where it will be transported to a facility in Fort Myers, Florida to undergo testing.

And Bastion Minerals (ASX:BMO) was up early on news that soil sampling has defined elevated lithium to 120 ppm north of the post–tectonic granite (Agl) identified in government mapping, along with elevated tantalum (to 18 ppm), rubidium (to 234 ppm), tin (to 13 ppm) and cerium (to 115 ppm) occur in the south of the soil grid, at its 100% owned Split Rock Dam project in WA.

Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) was up this morning on news that fresh assays from 200m east of other recently reported results have returned additional shallow, high-grade niobium-REE mineralisation including:

  • 46m @ 3.1% Nb2O5 from 60m to EOH including 4m @ 6.4% Nb2O5 from 84m
  • 18m @ 3.2% Nb2O5 from 76m including 2m @ 17.0% Nb2O5 from 76m

88 Energy (ASX:88E) was up later in the day, on news of the commencement of a 2D seismic acquisition program for Petroleum Exploration Licence 93 over the Owambo Basin, Namibia, the funding of which by 88 Energy allows them a claim to an initial 20% working interest in the project.

 

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:

Wordpress Table Plugin

 

TRADING HALTS 

Mayfield Childcare (ASX:MFD) ) – pending the release of an announcement regarding an acquisition.

Suvo Strategic Minerals (ASX:SUV) – pending an announcement relating to a binding agreement for its geopolymer concrete.

Redcastle Resources (ASX:RC1) – pending an announcement in relation to its diamond drilling campaign at Queen Alexandra.

Hastings Technology Metals (ASX:HAS) ) – pending an announcement to the market concerning a share placement.

Infini Resources (ASX:I88) – pending an announcement regarding material exploration results at its Portland Creek Uranium Project.

Summit Minerals (ASX:SUM) – ending an announcement by Summit in relation to a capital raise.