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

On Stockhead today, the crypto sector that has gone from zero to $US1bn in two years, user growth is still climbing but a price war may be heating up in Australia’s cannabis market and the university cash well could be drying up for startups.

But first…

The week ahead

This week’s most important economic data is jobs data on Thursday, including the unemployment rate. Economists are expecting a further rise from 6.2 per cent to 7 per cent.

Other releases this week include the minutes from the Reserve Bank’s latest meeting and the House Price Index — both due on Tuesday, as well as preliminary retail sales on Friday.

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

Monday: 

PharmAust (ASX:PAA) – results of COVID-19 experiments
Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX:PIQ) – study results
Norwood Systems (ASX:NOR) – capital raising
Metals Australia (ASX:MLS) – maiden JORC resource
Vango Mining (ASX:VAN) – capital raising
Medlab Clinical (ASX:MDC) – capital raising
African Gold (ASX:A1G) – capital raising
Cirralto (ASX:CRO) – capital raising
Harvest Technology Group (ASX:HTG) – capital raising
Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT) – capital raising

Tuesday:

Platina Resources (ASX:PGM) – capital raising
Race Oncology (ASX:RAC) – clinical trial results
eSense-Lab (ASX:ESE) – commercial joint venture
Titanium Sands (ASX:TSL) – price query response
Blue Star Helium (ASX:BNL) – capital raising
Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) – capital raising
Integrated Payment Technologies (ASX:IP1) – capital raising

Markets

Gold: $US1,730.60 ($2,515.85) (+0.04%)

Silver: $US17.48 (-1.20%)

Oil (WTI): $US36.26 (-0.22%)

Oil (Brent): $US38.90 (+0.91%)

Coal: $US53.98 (+1.12%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US102.89 (-0.09%)

AUD/USD: $US0.6835 (-0.45%)

Bitcoin: $US9,384.61 (-0.11%)

What got you talking last week

On Twitter, one particularly popular story was on the outlook for lithium.

While prices have been affected, the long-term outlook for demand remains strong and a number of ASX lithium players have been laying the foundations for future success by raising capital or conducting studies into their projects.

The outlook for lithium remains positive, here are some of the next wave of future producers #lithium #outlook #mining #renewablebatteries #ElectricVehicles $AVZ $AGY $CXO $LPD $LTR https://t.co/fm2xDZG8xv

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) June 11, 2020

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Also, be sure to check in at 10.20am each morning for our daily 10 at 10 column — a live summary of winners and losers at the opening bell.

Last week’s winners

Last week’s losers