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

On Stockhead today, what the biggest M&A deal in ASX history means for BNPLs, five questions for Venturex Resources MD Bill Beament, and who won the battery metals battle in July?

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:

Today

Fiji Kava (ASX:FIJ) – capital raising
IODM (ASX:IOD) – revenue signing
Cradle Resources (ASX:CXX) – shareholder meeting outcome
Vulcan (ASX:VUL) – off take term sheet
Frontier Resources (ASX:FNT) – capital raising
IPB Petroleum (ASX:IPB) – capital raising
Strike Resources (ASX:SRK) – regulatory approval
Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR) – response from FDA
West Wits Mining (ASX:WWI) – capital raising

Wednesday  

AustChina Holdings (ASX:AUH) – capital raising
Comet Ridge (ASX:COI)– acquisition
Bowen Coking Coal (ASX:BCB) – capital raising & acquisition 
eMetals (ASX:EMT) – drill results
8common (ASX:8CO) – capital raising
Atrum Coal (ASX:ATU) – capital raising
ResApp (ASX:RAP) – licensing agreement
Eastern Iron (ASX:EFE) – project acquisition option 
QEM (ASX:QEM) – capital raising

MARKETS

Gold: $US1,813.25 ($2,460.98) (-0.02%)

Silver: $US25.40 ($34.47) (-0.24%)

Oil (WTI): $US71.46 (-3.35%)

Oil (Brent): $US73.11 (-3.05%)

Coal: $US150.15 (+0.15%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US181.21 (-14.52%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7365 (+0.29%)

Bitcoin: $US39,010.47 (-5.26%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

Our lead pic: That’s Alexander Porter of Team Australia face-planting into the wood at +60kmph when his handlebars snapped during the team pursuit qualifying.

He got up and did it all again just 10 minutes later.

“I’ve never seen that before.”

Alex Porter has a nasty fall after his handlebars detach in the middle of the men’s team pursuit. Thankfully he was able to walk away from the accident #Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/1iqGXcpiax

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 2, 2021

…and Tuesday is looking good for the local bourse.

⚠️BREAKING:

*U.S. STOCK FUTURES RALLY TO START NEW WEEK, MONTH pic.twitter.com/RG8vRoTBQa

— Investing.com (@Investingcom) August 2, 2021

YESTERDAY’S BIGGEST WINNERS

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

Stocks highlighted in yellow rose (or fell) after making announcements during intraday trade.

Red Hill Iron (ASX:RHI) held its gains after cashing out its interest in its joint venture iron ore project of the same name for $400m cash.

Welltech platform Wooboard (ASX:WOO) closed higher up the winner’s list with a gain of 25% after releasing its investor presentation summarising its activity in the June quarter.

And BPNL leader Afterpay (ASX:APT) closed at $115, following the marquee acquisition announcement by US payments firm Square Inc.

The closing price marked a slight retreat from APT’s rally above $120 in morning trade, following the Square deal which valued the company at $126.21 per share.

YESTERDAY’S BIGGEST LOSERS

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

Stocks highlighted in yellow rose (or fell) after making announcements during intraday trade.