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

On Stockhead today, our new expert column “Guy on Rocks”, why iron ore is looking like one of the (very) few hot commodities right now and StockTalk: The beneficiaries of China’s economic bounce-back.

But first…

The day ahead

After yesterday’s historically bad results for NAB’s March business survey, Westpac is due to follow up with its monthly gauge of consumer confidence this morning.

There’s also a data deluge out of the US, including March data for retail sales and industrial production, which should provide further context around the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the US economy.

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

Wednesday:

Superior Lake Resources (ASX:SUP) – consolidation
Mandrake Resources (ASX:MAN) – nickel project transition
InvoCare (ASX:IVC) – capital raising
Spirit Telecom (ASX:ST1) – capital raising

Thursday:

BrainChip (ASX:BRN) – capital raising
Cobre (ASX:CBE) – exploration results
Virgin Australia (ASX:VAH) – financial assistance
Panoramic Resources (ASX:PAN) – financial and operational update
Capitol Health (ASX:CAJ) – capital raising
Threat Protect Australia (ASX:TPS) – financing facility
Predictive Discovery (ASX:PDI) – drilling results

Markets

Gold: $US1,728.93 ($2,660.31) (+0.68%)

Silver: $US15.77 (+2.45%)

Oil (WTI): $US20.70 (-7.63%)

Oil (Brent): $US30.02 (-5.36%)

Coal: $US59.62 (-2.26%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US83.84 (+0.59%)

AUD/USD: $US0.6443 (+0.96%)

Bitcoin: $US6,874.77 (+0.60%)

What got you talking yesterday

Readers took an interest in our latest look at the copper sector, and why it could be poised to benefit in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, senior journalist Rachel Williamson asked the question everyone wants an answer to: How far are we from a COVID-19 vaccine, really?

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

Yesterday’s winners

Yesterday’s losers