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

On Stockhead today, Escrow Watch (our fortnightly recap of the small caps releasing shares locked away in escrow), Trading Places (the week’s substantial buyers and sellers), and a look at how coronavirus fears are hammering commodity prices.

But first…

The day ahead

Australia’s Q4 trade figures are scheduled for release from the ABS at 11:30am EST. Exports are expected to fall sharply, in line with the pullback in iron ore prices during the December quarter.

Looking abroad, the Bank of England will make its policy announcement, with rates expected to stay on hold at 0.75 per cent.

There’s also December employment data out of the Eurozone along with US Q4 GDP figures.

The following ASX companies are in trading halts and are expected to exit in the next 2 trading days:

Thursday:

Krakatoa Resources (ASX:KTA) – capital raising
Amani Gold (ASX:ANL) – capital raising
Syndicated Metals (ASX:SMD) – capital raising
Emeco Holdings (ASX:EHL) – capital raising
Hammer Metals (ASX:HMX) – SPP shortfall
Sovereign Metals (ASX:SVM) – capital raising
HGL (ASX:HNG) – capital raising

Friday:

Tinybeans (ASX:TNY) – acquisition and capital raising
Oceania Healthcare (ASX:OCA) – share sell down
Technology Metals Australia (ASX:TMT) – capital raising
PTB Group (ASX:PTB) – capital raising
Emeco Holdings (ASX:EHL) – service agreement
Norwood Systems (ASX:NOR) – capital raising
Korab Resources (ASX:KOR) – company announcement

Markets

Gold: $US1,577.06 ($2,335.35) (+0.78%)

Silver: $US17.56 (+0.01%)

Oil (WTI): $US53.09 (-0.73%)

Oil (Brent): $US58.66 (-0.69%)

Coal: $US67.50 (-0.55%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US93.60 (-0.44%)

AUD/USD: $US0.6753 (-0.13%)

Bitcoin: $US9,364.58 (+3.50%)

What got you talking yesterday

Readers took an interest in our more detailed recap of 2019 IPO activity, along with what could be in store for the year ahead.

Also worth a look; the latest edition of IPO watch.

These were the most tipped stocks (weekly) on Stocks in Play:

Yesterday’s winners

Yesterday’s losers