Good morning everyone, and welcome to 24 January, 2024 \u2013\u00a0a date on the calendar that strikes fear into the hearts of old ladies who never wanted to cross the road but were forced across anyway\u2026 as it was on this day in 1908 that Lord Robert Baden-Powell published a book called \u201cScouting for Boys\u201d, and launched a worldwide movement that has been both a blessing and curse in some respects.<\/p>\n
It was a blessing for generations of young lads who needed a bit of structure and guidance in their lives, or perhaps just a bit of a push to get out and about into nature, learn (allegedly) important skills such as how to tie knots, how to start bushfires and how to scald both hands equally while trying to make tea in a small metal bucket.<\/p>\n
But, it turns out that there were more than a few bad apples who took the title of Baden-Powell\u2019s seminal tome to be something of an instruction in and of itself, joining the movement as responsible adults who were firmly intent on actually scouting for boys.<\/p>\n
While nowhere near as popular as it was when I was a lad, I am reliably informed that Scouting is still very much A Thing, albeit one that has had to undergo some massive changes to the way it\u2019s all structured.<\/p>\n
Still, I owe the Scout movement more than a small debt of gratitude\u00a0\u2013 the weekends away from parental supervision where I learnt to smoke cigarettes and enjoy the assorted flavours of hastily purloined alcohol are fond memories I will cherish forever.<\/p>\n
Speaking of which, let\u2019s all hope together that today is a day where some fond memories will be made among us here, as we Do Our Best to make some sense of what\u2019s happening on the market, and maybe pocket a bit of coin along the way.<\/p>\n
To help you get your affairs in order, Reuben\u2019s dug deep to remind us all of those wild \u201990s days (read \u201cscams\u201d)<\/a>, while Earlybird Eddy\u2019s frantically waving the bong smoke out the window and spraying something pot pourri-scented because his mum\u2019s at the door asking for all the cannabis stock news the week has to offer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plus, down below, there\u2019s all the usual numbers and letters, all lovingly arranged in such a fashion that they make sense to our weird, wet and wrinkly brains\u00a0\u2013 because nothing quite says \u201csentient life\u201d than 1.4kg of meat that runs on electricity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Gold: US$2,025.12 (-0.18%)<\/p>\n Silver: US$22.398 (-0.17%)<\/p>\n Nickel (3mth): US$16,060.50\/t (+1.43%)<\/p>\n Copper (3mth): US$8,312.15\/t (+0.72%)<\/p>\n Oil (WTI): US$74.27 (-0.34%)<\/p>\n Oil (Brent): US$79.42 (-0.39%)<\/p>\n Iron 62pc Fe: US$135.42\/t (-0.34%)<\/p>\n AUD\/USD: 0.6573 (-0.19%)<\/p>\n Bitcoin: US$39,647.20<\/span> (-0.58%)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Battery metals are taking a battering at the moment \u2013 here\u2019s a look at just how bad the bleeding is this week.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s new in battered battery metals this week? Lithium stocks took a pounding on Monday. Any improvement come Weds?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s something for red metal fans: a new report predicts increasing demand for copper in EVs over the next decade. Stockhead > https:\/\/t.co\/1qaCgo4vMj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Stockhead (@StockheadAU) January 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks:<\/p>\n Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort:<\/p>\n WordPress Table Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Newmark Property REIT was charging hard at the top of the Small Caps ladder Wednesday, up more than 38% on news that it has entered into a Bid Implementation Deed that will see BWP Management lock in an off-market, 100% takeover, as part of an a proposed all-scrip merger between the pair.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an almost-impossible to turn down transaction, with BWP happy to cough up 0.40 BWP units per NPR security, to meet an implied value of $1.39 per NPR security \u2013 which is a thunderous 43.1% premium to its closing price Tuesday at $0.97 a pop.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Surefire Resources (ASX:SRN)<\/a> hit a home run in the lab, with the company claiming a breakthrough pre-treatment and leach process that has allowed it to extract 91% of vanadium and 88% of titanium directly from Victory Bore magnetite concentrate.<\/p>\n It\u2019s big news for Surefire, and stems from the company\u2019s strategy of teaming up with METS Engineering in May last year, specifically to look into developing a better method of extraction, specifically for vanadium \u2013 as it appears that the \u201dunexpected extraction\u201d of titanium during the process is a surprise bonus for the team.<\/p>\n The process is, as you\u2019d expect, commercial in confidence \u2013 so, the specifics aren\u2019t going to be made public just yet \u2013 and Surefire says it is subject to a Provisional Patent protection and remains solely the company\u2019s IP.<\/p>\n Market minnow Eden Innovations (ASX:EDE)<\/a> banked a 33.3% jump on the heels of a positive quarterly, which talked up \u201cinterest from a large multi-national company\u201d in the company\u2019s patented, core pyrolysis tech to make hydrogen and carbon nanotubes from natural gas without all that pesky CO2 as a by-product.<\/p>\n Eden reports that revenue for December quarter for its EdenCrete product is up 8% on PCP, however sales of its OptiBlend have fallen dramatically, down -93% \u2013 with a caveat that there are some significant sales negotiations underway in India at the moment.<\/p>\n And online retailer Harris Technology (ASX:HT8)<\/a> has dropped its quarterly with the news that it has generated sales revenue of $4.9m through the December quarter, with thanks to an \u201cincreased contribution from the Household and Seasonal categories in line with the busy retail season through Black Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day\u201d.<\/p>\n That was enough to drive a net operating cash inflow of $235,000 for the quarter, marking the second consecutive quarter and just pipping the previous three-month result of $226,000.<\/p>\n Later in the day, Harvest Technology Group (ASX:HTG)<\/a> spiked on news that its received both second and third orders for its Nodestream technology from its significant Five-Eyes defence customer, in the total amount of approximately $380,000 \u2013 which has reportedly been paid up-front, and in cash.<\/p>\n And Flynn Gold (ASX:FG1)<\/a> enjoyed a late surge after lunch, after the results from an Extraordinary General Meeting were published, days out from the extended deadline of the company\u2019s in-progress share purchase plan.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks:<\/p>\n Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort:<\/p>\n WordPress Table Plugin<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Merchant House (ASX:MHI)<\/a> \u2013 pending an announcement to the market in relation to a material asset sale from the Company\u2019s subsidiary, Footwear Industries of Tennessee.<\/p>\n Cassius Mining (ASX:CMD)<\/a> \u2013 pending an announcement by the Company in relation to a capital raising.<\/p>\n Papyrus Australia (ASX:PPY)<\/a> \u2013 pending an announcement to be made to the market regarding a Share Sale & Purchase Agreement.<\/p>\n Matador Mining (ASX:MZZ)<\/a> \u2013 \u201cOut of an abundance of caution related to the remediation of a government clerical error relating to the status of a few of Matador\u2019s tenements in Newfoundland.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Rise and Shine: Everything you need to know before the ASX opens<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"COMMODITY\/FOREX\/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES<\/h2>\n
WHAT GOT YOU TALKING<\/h2>\n
YESTERDAY\u2019S ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS<\/h2>\n
Yesterday\u2019s Small Cap Winners included:<\/h2>\n
YESTERDAY\u2019S ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS<\/h2>\n
TRADING HALTS<\/h2>\n