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

On Stockhead today, PLS boss says the only way for lithium is up, why Aussie gas concerns are hot air, and Fortescue stays positive on China.

But first … the day ahead.

WHO’S SCHEDULED TO LIST?

MARONAN METALS (ASX:MMA)

Raised: $15m at 20c per share

Listing: 10:30am AEST

The Red Metals (ASX:RDM) spinout is focused on its namesake lead-silver-copper-gold project in Queensland, which has an existing 2 million tonne lead, 105Moz silver, 170,000t copper and 300,00oz gold resource.

It is in the mineral-rich Carpentaria Province, which hosts multiple Tier 1 lead-zinc-silver mines like Mount Isa, George Fisher, Century, Cannington, Dugald River and significant copper deposits including Mount Isa, Ernest Henry, Osborne, and Eloise.

MMA plans to drill for additional shallow, copper-gold and lead-silver mineralisation as well as the potentially larger, higher-grade copper-gold and lead-zinc-silver extensions at depth.

TRADING HALTS

The following companies are in trading halts and are expected out in the coming days:

Alchemy Resources (ASX:ALY) – ASX price query

Heavy Minerals (ASX:HVY) – Maiden JORC resource at Port Gregory project

Virtus Health (ASX:VRT) – Court shenanigans around takeover tussle

EQ Resources (ASX:EGR) – Announcement in relation to material funding

Benz Mining Corp (ASX:BNZ) – Exploration update at Ruby Hill West lithium project

Aeris Resources (ASX:AIS) – Entitlement offer to fund Round Oak Minerals deal

Sovereign Metals (ASX:SVM) – Capital raising

Triangle Energy (ASX:TEG) – Capital raising

MARKETS (updated at 8am AEDT)

Gold: $US1,885.91 (+0.01%)

Silver: $US22.97 (-1.55%)

Nickel (3mth): $US33,300/t (+0.7%)

Copper (3mth): $US9,856/t (0.00%)

Oil (WTI): $US103.85 (+1.79%)

Oil (Brent): $US106.82 (+1.33%)

Aust Coking Coal (steelmaking): $494.00/t (+7.2%)

Newcastle Coal (thermal): $325.00/t (0.00%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US141.00 (+1.45%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7151 (-1.19%)

Bitcoin: $US39,333.80 (+0.21%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

You’re still excited about that Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) lithium auction.

$PLS will rake in ~$28.2m alone for this one spot cargo alone. That’s half its total spod contracts for the entire last December half. https://t.co/Bgzoh5S7zg

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) April 27, 2022

As Snoop would say: Mind on my money, money on my mind.

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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).

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.

Fintech Splitit (ASX:SPT) smashed sone new quarterly records but it’s probably the cracking Japanese deal with Google that had investors pumping the stock higher. The word is Google USA – the real, scary Google – plans to expand its Splitit partnership beyond Japan and into the pockets of Google’s big spending US customers.

Yesterday’s Charles Sheen stock (winning for no apparent reason) was again Lithium Plus Minerals (ASX:LPM), which only listed on Tuesday and ended some 175% up on its suddenly bargain looking listing price $0.25.

Lithium Plus (300%) is now trading at $1 – that’s a little maths gag I’ve borrowed from our Closing Bell man Christian Edwards.

Mining reg-tech platform K2fly Limited (ASX:K2F) nailed its third quarter, delivering record revenues after a string of deals with South32 and Freeport-McMoran.

Also marching on the quarter is Aspermont (ASX:ASP).The publisher of mining news is enjoying its own headline moment, with a quarterly revenue bump thanks to the pick-up in activity across its live events division.

And Juno Minerals (ASX:JNO), developer of the Mount Mason DSO Hematite Project in WA. With permits in place, Juno said a financial investment decision on Mount Mason is “subject to confirming a logistics solution, which is being progressed”.

YESTERDAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP LOSERS

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

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.

Silver Lake Resources (ASX:SLR) isn’t so much of a small cap nowadays, but headed back in that direction a little yesterday after withdrawing its full year sales guidance.

The gold and copper digger from out WA-way blamed the state’s Covid-loopiness for severe disruptions from labour shortages to shaky supply lines. SLR shares were down 12% at lunchtime.