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

On Stockhead today, how drug delivery tech works and the ASX companies with plans to capitalise on it, the drone industry is flying on the back of escalating global tensions and Virtus pitches AI tech to get out of IVF price war.

But first…

The day ahead

Economic data due for release today includes construction work for the second quarter. After a 1 per cent fall in the first quarter, a Bloomberg survey shows economists are expecting a 5 per cent drop this time around.

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

Wednesday:

Kingwest Resources (ASX:KWR) – capital raising
Anova Minerals (ASX:AWV) – asset divestment
Petratherm (ASX:PTR) – proposed transaction
Wellness & Beauty Solutions (ASX:WNB) – proposed acquisition
Australian Mines (ASX:AUZ) – capital raising
Minotaur Exploration (ASX:MEP) – capital raising
Broo (ASX:BEE) – capital raising
Cycliq Group (ASX:CYQ) – board appointments
Lake Resources (ASX:LKE) – capital raising
Astro Resources (ASX:ARO) – capital raising
Comet Resources (ASX:CRL) – acquisition
Hastings Technology Metals (ASX:HAS) – capital raising

Thursday:

Minbos Resources (ASX:MNB) – scoping study results
TasFoods (ASX:TFL) – capital raising
Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) – capital raising

Markets

Gold: $US1,928.05 ($2,680.17) (-0.23%)

Silver: $US26.53 ($36.88) (-0.04%)

Oil (WTI): $US43.39 (+1.81%)

Oil (Brent): $US45.95 (+1.82%)

Coal: $US50.75 (+0.59%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US122.57 (-0.18%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7195 (+0.45%)

Bitcoin: $US11,300.31 (-3.94%)

What got you talking yesterday

Yesterday on Twitter it was about the rise in silver M&A activity in light of the silver spot price rising in recent weeks.

Junior explorer Jadar Resources (ASX:JDR) is looking to buy a mothballed Queensland silver mine once owned by Moreton Resources (ASX:MRV).

Silver-focused merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is heating up as prices continue to trade around seven-year highs. https://t.co/kWJDd75xW8 #ASX #ausbiz $JDR $MRV pic.twitter.com/S7GZJgD6RM

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) August 24, 2020

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Yesterday’s winners

Stocks highlighted in yellow made market-moving announcements

Yesterday’s losers