On Stockhead today, everyone’s trying to put a price on war, Brent smashes through US$105, and shipping stinks. No, actually.

But first, the day ahead.

Local shares are set to open higher today. At 8am AEDT, the ASX 200 March futures is pointing up by 1.22%.

In case you hadn’t heard, Putin and Russia invaded Ukraine, one giant step towards the return of the Cold War.

The ASX 200 lost more than $70 billion and shed almost 3% in a collapse admittedly impacted by $240 billion BHP (ASX:BHP) going ex-div.

Impacts in other financial markets were similarly brutal, with the Russian Ruble collapsing to its lowest US dollar exchange rate in history and the Moscow Exchange shut until further notice.

The onset of war pushed Brent oil past US$100 a barrel and gold to 12 month highs, but this will be the big headline for a while yet.

 

TRADING HALTS

The following companies are in Trading Halts and are expected out in the coming days.

Tombola Gold (ASX:TBA) — Capital raising

Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA) — Updated resource statement

Nanollose (ASX:NC6) — Pilot spin, Nullarbor fibre

 

MARKETS (updated at 8am AEDT)

Gold: $US1,898.75 (-0.49%)

Silver: $US24.165 (-1.44%)

Oil (WTI): $US93.15 (+1.15%)

Oil (Brent): $US99.14(+2.36%)

Aust Coking Coal (steelmaking): $449.04/t (+0.74%)

Newcastle Coal (thermal): $238/t (+0.7%)

Iron 62pc Fe: $US142.66/t (-0.21%)

AUD/USD: $US0.7174 (-0.83%)

Bitcoin: $US38,360 (+1.75%)

 

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING YESTERDAY?

This happened …

Need to get back in a happy space? Keep your mind on your gold portfolio.

YESTERDAY’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
MDX Mindax Limited 0.059 55.3% 2,655,748
MAY Melbana Energy Ltd 0.074 34.5% 91,089,195
CIM Cimic Group Ltd 22 33.4% 11,042,343
PCL Pancontinental Energ 0.005 25.0% 98,267,787
CT1 Constellation Tech 0.006 20.0% 2,751,548
MBK Metal Bank Ltd 0.006 20.0% 5,039,355
GCR Golden Cross 0.155 19.2% 329,875
AER Aeeris Ltd 0.16 14.3% 22,154
TSL Titanium Sands Ltd 0.025 13.6% 30,000
SSR SSR Mining Inc. 27.85 13.6% 49,765
TEG Triangle Energy Ltd 0.017 13.3% 4,033,555
PRU Perseus Mining Ltd 1.79 12.6% 11,164,151
ADS Adslot Ltd. 0.019 11.8% 2,712,614
OAU Ora Gold Limited 0.02 11.1% 999,908
RXH Rewardle Holding Ltd 0.01 11.1% 228,505
FIN FIN Resources Ltd 0.03 11.1% 4,000
LOV Lovisa Holdings Ltd 18.34 10.8% 1,099,944
MOZ Mosaic Brands Ltd 0.58 10.5% 253,189
IVR Investigator Res Ltd 0.064 10.3% 8,989,625
SRI Sipa Resources Ltd 0.054 10.2% 275,853
ENV Enova Mining Limited 0.022 10.0% 49,525
MPR Mpower Group Limited 0.044 10.0% 1,678,113
EVZ EVZ Limited 0.17 9.7% 250,287
HMG Hamelingoldlimited 0.17 9.7% 232,467
LVT Livetiles Limited 0.08 9.6% 8,230,640
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On a rough day for stocks, oil & gas explorer Melbana Energy (ASX:MAY) leapt ahead after announcing an oil strike in Cuba.

Drill work at its Alameda onshore project in Cuba revealed “extensive natural fracturing, an important production characteristic for a limestone reservoir of this type and one that could lead to an upgrade of the net pay estimate as the characteristics of the reservoir become better understood”, the company said.

“The recovery characteristics of this reservoir interval will be better understood once initial flow testing work is done,” which is expected to commence in around two weeks, Melbana said.

 

YESTERDAY’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
CLT Cellnet Group 0.039 -35.0% 4,192,777
CCX City Chic Collective 3.47 -31.3% 9,440,441
360 Life360 Inc. 4.6 -30.0% 9,181,391
APX Appen Limited 6.15 -28.2% 12,226,901
AMD Arrow Minerals 0.004 -27.3% 34,703,032
OBM Ora Banda Mining Ltd 0.052 -26.4% 22,917,839
JAV Javelin Minerals Ltd 0.0015 -25.0% 49,986,032
VMG VDM Group Limited 0.0015 -25.0% 4,380,915
MWY Midway Ltd 0.92 -24.0% 356,404
PTR Petratherm Ltd 0.032 -23.8% 22,506
MRL Mayur Resources Ltd 0.13 -23.5% 986,879
OVT Ovato Limited 0.175 -20.5% 11,502
BDM Burgundy D Mines Ltd 0.2 -20.0% 726,066
SMS Starmineralslimited 0.16 -20.0% 54,746
CDT Castle Minerals 0.045 -19.6% 69,744,970
CPO Culpeominerals 0.105 -19.2% 34,523
NIS Nickelsearch 0.195 -18.8% 878,079
MRR Minrex Resources Ltd 0.049 -18.3% 38,204,349
FFF Forbidden Foods 0.135 -18.2% 134,988
MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.165 -17.5% 1,571,244
DBO Diabloresources 0.091 -17.3% 630,103
CUV Clinuvel Pharmaceut. 18.36 -16.9% 326,389
TYM Tymlez Group 0.035 -16.7% 30,423,101
AUH Austchina Holdings 0.015 -16.7% 31,615,738
E33 East 33 Limited. 0.1 -16.7% 44,979
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Half-year reporting season produced some ugly results, as gaming technology accessory distributor Cellnet (ASX:CLT) slumped by more than 30% following its February trading update.

Also going into free-fall following their half-year reports were womens clothing retailer City Chic Collective (ASX:CCX) and data technology company Appen (ASX:APX).