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

On Stockhead today– How to play the growing global food crisis, uranium inventories are ‘scarily’ low, and a couple of ASX Value specials to consider.

But first, the day ahead.

The labour force survey is issued for April.

CBA economists estimate ~30,000 jobs were added for the month, with the unemployment rate falling from 4% to 3.9% — the lowest level since 1974.

TRADING HALTS

The following companies are in trading halts or suspension and are expected out in the next few days:

Sustainable Nutrition Group (ASX:TSN) – termination of key customer supply agreement

Wiluna Mining Corp (ASX:WMC) – recapitalisation proposal

Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) – capital raising

Arafura Resources (ASX:ARU) – offtake agreement

Clime Investment Management (ASX:CIW) – material acquisition

Krakatoa Resources (ASX:KTA) – exploration target at Mt Clere REE project

BPH Energy (ASX:BPH) – farm out agreement, hydrogen technology  transaction

AVZ Minerals (ASX:AVZ) – an announcement in relation to its mining and exploration rights for the Manono lithium and tin project

MARKETS

Gold: $US1,819.71 (+4.97%)

Silver: $US21.741 (+0.216%)

Nickel (3mth): $US26,250/t (-0.59%)

Copper (3mth): $US9,317.50/t (-0.22%)

Lithium Carbonate, China (Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, May 19): $US68,850/t (+0.1% weekly)

Lithium Hydroxide, China (Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, May 19): $US70,625/t (-0.2% weekly)

Oil (WTI): $US113.920 (+1.51%)

Oil (Brent): $US113.00 (+1.07%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US125.00 (-2.00%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7024 (-0.123%)

Bitcoin: $US29,915.40(-1.63%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

Feel poorer? That’s because you are.

Adjusted for inflation, Australia’s wage growth is really ugly.

Real wages – adjusted by headline inflation – are down 2.6% over the past year. Largest decline since the introduction of the GST.

Adjusted for core inflation, we are down 1% #ausbiz #auspol pic.twitter.com/pF74VvoHfh

— Callam Pickering (@CallamPickering) May 18, 2022

To keep up to date with Stockhead coverage, follow our Twitter page.

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 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.

Analytica (ASX:ALT)  locked in patents for its PeriCoach pelvic floor exercise system in Europe and India.

Anteotech’s (ASX:ADO) updated COVID-19 RAT received regulatory approval in Europe.

Health co Biome Australia (ASX:BIO) announced a 54% increase in sales year-to-date vs full year FY21 “due to increasing demand for Biome’s Activated Probiotics products”.

New uranium and lithium explorer Aurora Energy Metals (ASX:1AE) hit the bourse with a bang after raising $8m at 20c per share in an IPO.

And Riversgold (ASX:RGL)  acquired another tenement prospective for lithium in the Pilbara.

YESTERDAY’S 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.