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

On Stockhead today, why ASX lithium stock Lake is an expert favourite, stocks to watch in defence and cybersecurity, and Europe or US for pot stocks?

But first… the day ahead.

TRADING HALTS

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

Friday

Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) – option agreement update
Toro Energy (ASX:TOE) – capital raising
Equus Mining (ASX:EQE) – capital raising

Monday

Australian Bauxite (ASX:ABX) – capital raising
Zeotech (ASX:ZEO) – capital raising
Australian Potash (ASX:APC) – capital raising
Lucapa Diamond Company (ASX:LOM) – acquisition and capital raising
Dynamic Drill & Blast (ASX:DDB) – capital raising
Jayex Healthcare (ASX:JHL) – capital raising
Mayur Resources (ASX:MRL) – capital raising

MARKETS

Gold: $US1,877.15 ($2,415.58) (+0.41%)

Silver: $US27.76 ($35.72) (+0.05%)

Oil (WTI): $US61.94 (-2.24%)

Oil (Brent): $US64.87 (-2.69%)

Coal: $US98.50 (+2.55%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US211.15 (-0.38%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7770 (+0.63%)

Bitcoin: $US40,681.97 (+7.60%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

Plunging cryptos and our falling jobless rate.

Australia woke up yesterday to a crypto market in tatters, having nosedived the previous night that left traders with huge losses and the gloomy possibility that the crypto bull run may have ended.

But the billion dollar question remains, where to from here?

Australia’s jobless rate fell to 5.5 per cent in April, beating estimates forecast of 5.6 per cent, and calming fears of an oncoming fiscal cliff when Jobkeeper ended.

Supporting this latest data, job ads on employment website Seek (ASX:SEEK) are at a 23-year record high.

According to the website, the hospitality and tourism sector recorded a 21.7 per jump in March, followed by trades and services with 13.6 per cent.

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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.

YESTERDAY’S WINNERS

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.

The ASX 200 index rose by 1.27 per cent yesterday.

NuEnergy Gas (ASX:NGY) got a big boost on some regulatory news, after announcing that an extensive period of legwork in Indonesia has resulted in an invite to a virtual conference on June 17, when the Indonesian government will grant approval for the Plan of Development 1 of NGY’s coal bed methane asset in South Sumatra.

Connexion Telematics (ASX:CXZ) rose by 14 per cent, after winning a 5-year renewal contract with General Motors. Conexxion’s software powers GM’s OnTRAC system, and provides it with telemetry, fleet management, contract management and data analytics tools.

Cannabis play Cronos (ASX:CAU) rose by 20 per cent, after reporting that sales of its Adaya medicinal cannabis range of products have grown rapidly in the last quarter, and over the past financial year. The average quarter-on-quarter increase in sales revenue for Adaya are more than 200%.

YESTERDAY’S LOSERS

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.