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

Good morning everyone, and welcome to 20 February, 2024 – a notable day in the history of a tiny percentage of Scottish people, as it was on this day in 1472 that the inhabitants of the Shetlands and Orkney Islands woke up to discover that they, their farms and their preposterously short horses were no longer Norwegian.

Much to their “sørprise and øutråge”, the folks on those islands found out that they, and their land, had been offered up as security to ensure that King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark would tie the knot.

Margaret’s father, Christian of Denmark, had apparently talked a big game when it came to being fabulously wealthy, and had offered James a handsome dowry to go along with his daughter’s hand in marriage.

But, as Christian couldn’t cough up the dough, and had offered up the islands instead as security on the debt, they were handed over to Scotland and have been very, very Scottish ever since.

It seems like it was a decent swap, anyway – Scotland bagged a couple of islands, and James III of Scotland got a wife for 16 years, until she died. But he died two years later, so all’s well that ends well.

To more pressing matters, the team at Stockhead have put together a fabulous line up of stories for you this morning, including some timely advice from the always effervescent Rusty Delroy, and Nadine McGrath’s search for the fountain of youth continues.

And, as always there’s words and numbers down below to help you sound like you know what you’re doing when the market opens later on this morning.

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: US$2,019.90 (+0.31%)

Silver: US$23.18 (-1.18%)

Nickel (3mth): US$16,084/t (-0.85%)

Copper (3mth): US$8,321.15/t (+2.07%)

Oil (WTI): US$77.72 (-1.85%)

Oil (Brent): US$82.68 (-0.94%)

Iron 62pc Fe: US$128.87/t (+0.09%)

AUD/USD: 0.6540 (+0.03%)

Bitcoin: US$52,318.80 (+0.32%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING

Eddy’s been looking into Aussie health stocks, and a handful of them aren’t looking quite as healthy as before…

#ASX #health #stocks:
Starpharma suffers setback after US FDA appeal rejected
LTR Pharma to commence study on erectile dysfunction nasal spray, SPONTAN https://t.co/CpsHxM9xqk

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) February 19, 2024

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:

Yesterday’s Small Cap Winners included:

Most of the upward swings in Small Caps yesterday could be attributed to the increase in investor confidence in commodities, as the bulk of the big percentage movers made headway without the benefit of their own announcements to pin it on.

Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) did drop some news, announcing that the company has managed to hit a crucial milestone, by achieving better than 99.99% (4N+) High Purity Alumina (Al2O3) from the company’s Lake Hope mud via its proprietary and patented Playa One Sulphate Process.

This is big news for Impact, as the company’s recent Scoping Study demonstrated an NPV of $1.3 billion for the project and an estimated operating cost to produce 4N HPA up to 50% lower than anyone else globally at less than US$4,000 per tonne.

Elsewhere, it’s mid-cap and large caps with news that made the Monday morning winners list, including APM Human Services (ASX:APM) after it confirmed that it’s received a conditional and non-binding indicative proposal pursuant to which funds or investment vehicles advised by CVC would acquire all of the shares in APM by way of a scheme of arrangement, following ongoing discussions between the pair.

Indeed, it was APM that ended up taking the winner’s spot on the overall podium, finishing the day 48.8% higher on the news.

And A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) was higher on news of a positive interim result with 3.7% revenue growth and 5.0% EBITDA growth for 1HFY24, off the back of the company managing to grow its infant milk formula revenue despite a large, double-digit decline in the Chinese market overall.

Way2VAT’s (ASX:W2V) upward rush has continued from the previous week, again without anything in the way of news since the company announced the launch of its AI-driven automated accounts payable auditing product, AI-AP Compliance, on 15 February.

A letter to shareholders from the boss at 29Metals (ASX:29M) seems to have done the trick, with the stock up close to 38% on Monday afternoon after the company’s recent form slump prompted the CEO to put pen to paper and reassure shareholders that 2024 is “a recovery year to set us up for long term success”.

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:

TRADING HALTS

Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR) – to allow the company the time necessary to plan and secure commitments from sophisticated and professional investors in relation to a proposed capital raising.

3D Energi Limited (ASX: TDO) – pending an announcement by the company to the market regarding a capital raising.

De.mem (ASX:DEM) – pending an announcement by the company to the market in relation to a capital raising.

Melodiol Global Health (ASX:ME1) – pending an announcement regarding a capital raising.

Cooper Metals (ASX:CPM) – pending an announcement regarding exploration results and a material capital raising.

American West Metals (ASX:AW1) – an announcement to the market regarding a proposed capital raising.

Gold Hydrogen (ASX:GHY) – pending the release of a prospective resource statement in relation to its flagship Ramsay Project.

Cosmo Metals (ASX:CMO) – pending an announcement regarding an accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer and capital raising.

Simble Solutions (ASX:SIS) – pending an announcement in respect of a placement to be conducted via sophisticated investors.

Summit Minerals (ASX:SUM) – pending an announcement by Summit in relation to a strategic acquisition.

Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) – pending an announcement to ASX regarding correspondence received from the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) on 19 February 2024 regarding the commencement of an inquiry under the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW).