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

On Stockhead today, who’s going to solve WA’s gas problem, 10 stocks that went 20-bag after Covid, and Australia’s first all-local pot merger.

But first…

The week ahead

Key events locally will kick off with the RBA board minutes from in March meeting on Tuesday (11:30am AEDT). CBA economist Belinda Allen said markets will on the lookout for “further commentary on bond yields and the 3-year bond yield target”.

Later in the week, all eyes will be on the February employment report on Thursday. Westpac says jobs data should get another boost from the reopening of the NSW economy, which will see the unemployment rate drop again to 6.3 per cent.

And the main event of the week will on Wednesday night when the US Federal Reserve convenes for its policy meeting.

“Of particular interest to market participants will be if more FOMC members project a higher Fed Funds rate in 2023 than (they did) in December,” Allen said.

Trading Halts

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

Monday:

MetalsTech (ASX:MTC) – spin out of assets
Credit Intelligence (ASX:CI1) – capital raising
Xstate Resources (ASX:XST) – drilling update
Sacgasco (ASX:SGC) – drilling update
Accent Resources (ASX:ACS) – ASX query
Theta Gold Mines (ASX:TGM) – capital raising
EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) – capital raising
ECS Botanics (ASX:ECS) – capital raising
Vortiv (ASX:VOR) – capital return

Tuesday:

King Island Scheelite (ASX:KIS) – capital raising
Story-I (ASX:SRY) – capital raising
Incannex Healthcare (ASX:IHL) – research program launch

Markets

Gold: $US1,726.57 ($2,226.33) (+0.30%)

Silver: $US25.90 ($33.40) (-0.69%)

Oil (WTI): $US65.55 (-0.71%)

Oil (Brent): $US69.18 (-0.65%)

Coal: $US85.70 (+2.45%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US168.26 (-1.76%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7750 (+0.09%)

Bitcoin: $US59,682.43 (-2.13%)

What got you talking last week

Plenty of stuff, as usual. From construction technology to rising inflation, to which ASX medtech stocks will benefit from the global vaccine rollout and which will benefit from the ‘great reopening’.

But a Rise & Shine summary doesn’t do justice to Stockhead editor Peter Farhquhar’s weekly wrap of all the key articles that ASX investors really should be reading. Catch up here.

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

Last week’s winners

Stocks highlighted in yellow made market moving announcements

Last week’s losers