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

On Stockhead today, one expert’s take on the Australian cannabis market and his three stock picks, how Australia’s sovereign wealth fund could benefit from investing in small caps and WA is the world’s most specie destination for mining investment.

But first…

The day ahead

Today in economic data Q4 private capital expenditure will be released. Also keep your eye out for private sector credit, which will be released tomorrow.

The following companies are in trading halts and are expected to exit in the next two trading days.

Thursday:

Marmota (ASX:MEU) – drilling results
Classic Minerals (ASX:CLZ) – drilling results
Alto Metals (ASX:AME) – exploration results
Meteoric Resources (ASX:MEI) – assay results
Decmil Group (ASX:DCG) – NZ Department of corrections update
NetLinkz (ASX:NET) – capital raising

Friday:

AHAlife Holdings (ASX:AHL) – capital raising
Focus Minerals (ASX:FML) – tenure forfeiture applications
Auroch Minerals (ASX:AOU) – capital raising
Oro Verde (ASX:OVL) – capital raising

Markets

Gold: $US1,642.87 ($2,506.90) (+0.50%)

Silver: $US17.88 (-0.73%)

Oil (WTI): $US48.69 (-2.32%)

Oil (Brent): $US53.59 (-2.69%)

Coal: $US66.13 (-0.44%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US86.73 (+0.120%)

AUD/USD: $US0.6553 (-0.77%)

Bitcoin: $US8,821.08 (-5.19%)

What got you talking yesterday

Termites can be pesky but the CSIRO believes they could be useful for miners. It is investigating the potential for termite mounds to help explore for nickel and cobalt and this got the most attention on Twitter.

Could termites play a role in the search for nickel and cobalt? The CSIRO certainly thinks so #australia #csiro #research #mining #exploration #termites #nickel #cobalt https://t.co/HjFVcFUxqd

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) February 25, 2020

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

Yesterday’s winners

Yesterday’s losers