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

On Stockhead today … the WA nickel sector’s own version of Game of Thrones, the top tech stocks of 2021, and experts weigh in with their 2022 crypto predictions.

But first, the day ahead.

Or half-day we should say, because the ASX is over and out by 2.30pm AEDT, early enough for you to get your Xmas Eve beer or stand in line for a Covid test.

Why not do both at the same time?

Still looking for new trading ideas? Incredibly, but unsurprisingly, two companies are set to list on December 24, which is as close as a company can get to sharing a birthday with Jesus.

First up is Ark Mines (ASX:AHK), which is relisting two years after heading into administration at 10am AEDT. The previously NT-focused company raised $4.7 million to rejoin the ASX boards with a handful of projects around regional Queensland.

Listing at 11am AEDT will be Solis Minerals (ASX:SLM), which is looking for copper in Chile and Peru.

TRADING HALTS

Friday

Link (ASX:LNK) – M&A deal

Wednesday the 27th

Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) – Federal Court decision in Beetaloo drilling program case
Invictus Energy (ASX:IVZ) – capital raising

MARKETS (updated at 7.30am AEDT)

Gold: $US1,808.89 ($2,495.64) (+0.30%)

Silver: $US22.89 ($31.58) (+0.49%)

Oil (WTI): $US73.71 (+1.31%)

Oil (Brent): $US76.71 (+1.90%)

Coal: $US169.50 (+0.30%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US112.54 (-0.00%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7248 (+0.55%)

Bitcoin: $US50,924.56 ($70,258.32) (+3.98%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

WA Premier Mark McGowan fronted the media after the state announced a Covid-19 case had visited nightclubs in Northbridge over the weekend. It came as case numbers spiralled in New South Wales, where masks and QR codes are back on the list ahead of Christmas.

WA has recorded a new local case of COVID-19, related to a backpacker from Queensland.

A number of potential exposure sites have been identified across Perth, including in Mirrabooka, Joondalup, Girrawheen, Perth and the CBD, Subiaco, Northbridge and Scarborough. pic.twitter.com/gMx8E9cqJ7

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) December 23, 2021

THURSDAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP WINNERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during the trading day).

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

Code	Company	Price	%	Volume
SCT	Scout Security Ltd	0.044	52	5402610
ANL	Amani Gold Ltd	0.0015	50	16877811
EN1	Engage:Bdr Limited	0.003	50	3964876
BAS	Bass Oil Ltd	0.002	33	2127466
GMN	Gold Mountain Ltd	0.016	33	392238
MLS	Metals Australia	0.002	33	2750000
VMG	VDM Group Limited	0.002	33	1
ECG	Ecargo Hldg	0.03	25	476498
SYR	Syrah Resources	1.63	23	20584157
DM1	Desert Metals	0.25	22	62024
SOR	Strategic Elements	0.26	21	7308590
OZG	Ozgrowth Limited	0.32	21	4849339
GTG	Genetic Technologies	0.006	20	3955407
MTB	Mount Burgess Mining	0.006	20	625000
REZ	Resourc & En Grp Ltd	0.055	20	186693
FAL	Falconmetalsltd	0.375	19	8755155
PRS	Prospech Limited	0.065	18	120000
GSN	Great Southern	0.068	17	797909
WHK	Whitehawk Limited	0.12	17	1158859
PGM	Platina Resources	0.062	17	4934325
GL1	Globallith	0.735	17	3068145
TYX	Tyranna Res Ltd	0.007	17	1000000
KLR	Kaili Resources Ltd	0.036	16	34784

Scout Security (ASX:SCT) surged off the back of a capital raising that was conducted at a hefty premium to Wednesday’s closing price.

Syrah Resources (ASX:SYR) climbed off the back of an offtake agreement with Tesla then was sent into a trading halt to provide more details.

Ozgrowth (ASX:OZG) rose after a three-way merger between it, Westoz Investment company (ASX:WIC) and WAM Capital (ASX:WAM) was announced.

Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR) rose after an operational update on its subsidiary Stealth that provides autonomous technologies.

THURSDAY’S BIGGEST SMALL CAP LOSERS

(Stocks highlighted in yellow fell after making announcements during the trading day).

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

Code	Company	Price	%	Volume
FAR	FAR Ltd	0.38	-48	5679382
BME	Blackmountainenergy	0.145	-28	3328143
OEX	Oilex Ltd	0.003	-25	275210
PCL	Pancontinental Energ	0.0015	-25	2368687
TTB	Total Brain Ltd	0.105	-22	317255
ARO	Astro Resources NL	0.004	-20	2240000
VPR	Volt Power Group	0.002	-20	654
ASQ	Australian Silica	0.105	-19	1533014
MEG	Megado	0.099	-18	170380
CCE	Carnegie Cln Energy	0.0025	-17	12861672
CGB	Cann Global Limited	0.0025	-17	1926557
RB6	Rubixresources	0.17	-15	1432325
ASO	Aston Minerals Ltd	0.09	-14	6857271
SIT	Site Group Int Ltd	0.006	-14	2499999
BKG	Booktopia Group	1.38	-14	494932
GTE	Great Western Exp.	0.135	-13	834
AUH	Austchina Holdings	0.007	-13	2080000
BMR	Ballymore Resources	0.175	-13	120286
KNB	Koonenberrygold	0.16	-11	92199
OAR	OAR Resources Ltd	0.008	-11	2526044
TI1	Tombador Iron	0.033	-11	1029216
NUH	Nuheara Limited	0.017	-11	4480562
ZAG	Zuleika Gold Ltd	0.017	-11	358823

Shares in Far (ASX:FAR) were smashed off the back of results from its Bambo well, which lies offshore from Gambia. While oil shows and potential reservoirs were encountered, no live oil columns were present.

WA Fracking IPO Black Mountain Energy (ASX:BME) suffered a retreat on debut.