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

On Stockhead today, China’s graphite imports are off the scale, AustralianSuper gets into beer, and how online privacy for kids affects small caps.

But first:

The day ahead

A speech this afternoon from RBA governor Philip Lowe will likely get plenty of attention. Titled “Inflation Targeting & Economic Welfare”, it may offer clues to the central bank’s outlook after the RBA recently cut rates twice in response to falling inflationary pressures.

Looking abroad, the European Central Bank will make its policy announcement later tonight which Westpac says is “likely to pave the way for September easing”.

On the data front, the US has durable goods orders, initial jobless claims and the July manufacturing index from the Kansas City Federal Reserve.

Company news

The following companies are scheduled to come out of a trading halt or voluntary suspension over the next 48 hours:

Thursday:
Alliance Mineral Assets (ASX: A40) – corporate update
Marenica energy (ASX: MEY) – capital raising.

Friday:
Oventus Medical (ASX: OVN) – capital raising
Kalium Lakes (ASX: KLL) – capital raising
Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) – capital raising
PSC Insurance (ASX: PSI) – capital raising
Black Rock Mining (ASX: BKT) – DFS release.

Markets

Gold: $US1,425.62 ($2,043.17) +0.97%

Silver: $US16.60 +0.01%

Oil (Brent): $US63.10 -0.03%

Oil (WTI): $US55.90 -1.13%

Coal: $US74.92 -0.44%

Iron ore 62pc fe: $US119.00 -0.42%

AUD/USD: $US0.6978 -0.39%

What got you talking yesterday

Over on Stockhead’s Facebook group chat, member Eric Frei said what many were probably thinking in response to one expert view that the ASX All Ords could be heading for a new all-time high (last reached in 2007).

“Woohoo, about time … been over 10 years!,” Frei said.

These were the five most-discussed stocks among ASX small-cap investors on Wednesday, July 24:

$AUZ — Australia Mines Ltd
$LTR — Liontown Resources
$STX — Strike Energy
$MXC — MGC Pharmaceuticals
$ECT — Environmental Clean Tech

Yesterday’s losers

These were the best performing stocks at the close of trade on Wednesday, July 24: