The impact of Trump’s announcement – made on Truth Social on Sunday – could be observed in general terms, with Health Care being the worst performing sector on the ASX, down 1.17% on a mixed trading day.

Unsurprisingly, a cluster of companies followed the trend, with Neuren Pharmaceuticals, Telix Pharmaceuticals and Clarity Pharmaceuticals being noted as some of the bourse’s worst-performing stocks early on in the session, dropping 8.05%, 8.04% and 7.20% respectively by 14:25 AEST.

In his social media post, Trump said he wanted to bring prescription drug prices in the United States into line with those in other high-income countries, and promised he would sign an executive order to that effect on Monday.

Although he did not provide much detail about how the pricing would be shifted, the President said his policy would drive towards a ‘most favored nation’ framework, with prices to drop by between 30% and 80%.

“They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!” he said.

“I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World.”

As it is now, customers in the US pay the highest prices in the world for many prescription drugs.

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Competition was tight with 10 company leaders vying for the notoriety in an event where each had 4 minutes to sell their story.

The day was peppered with humour and, we warn viewers, some colourful language!

Brightstar was boldly endorsed from the start by the MC Hedley Widdup from shareholder, and listed mining investment company, Lion Selection Group (ASX:LST).

Brightstar is working in the Laverton and Menzies regions of WA, and, as of this week, also the Sandstone region of WA.

“Gold juniors should be bold and ambitious,” Mr Rovira said.

Alex Rovira (photo above, second left) is pictured with (from left) MC Hedley Widdup, Adam Miethke from Discovery Capital and Lucas Robinson from Corporate Storytime.

Turaco Gold (ASX:TCG) MD Justin Tremain spoke about the importance of his company’s discoveries in West Africa, where he argued gold grades were generally higher.

The company is working in south east Cote d’Ivoire where drilling had been across four deposits returning ‘world-class intersections’. Since last year, Turaco has acquired a 70% stake in the Afema gold project with drilling scheduled to begin this month.

He claimed Turaco ‘would’ have a gold mine and a one million ounce resource.

American lithium play Jindalee Lithium’s (ASX:JLL) flagship is the McDermitt Project in a volcanic caldera in southeast Oregon, by the Nevada border.

CEO Ian Rodger said the project held 21 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.

MC Hedley Widdup asked whether Donald Trump would be a risk if re-elected US President, to which Mr Rodger said: “I think Donald is going to be net positive to mining projects in the US”.

Velox Energy Materials (TSXV:VLX) is a TSXV-listed company looking to the battery and energy materials markets.

President and CEO Simon Coyle talked about the flagship vanadium project in North Queensland (south-west of Townsville) and is planning a dual-listing on the ASX within months.

Looking at gold in WA, Warriedar Resources (ASX:WA8) MD Amanda Buckingham was welcomed to the stage.

The company’s working at the Golden Range Project 5-6 hours drive north of Perth, which is a project surrounded by historical mines and ‘hungry mills’.

She said drilling was underway for the first time in a decade.

“Our ground… all we need to do is look around us to see the opportunity,” she said.

Amanda Buckingham discussed results received so far, most within 160 metres depth.

Next up was Strickland Metals (ASX:STK) MD Paul L’Herpiniere.

The company has projects in Australia and recently acquired the 5.44 million ounce Rogozna Project in Serbia. Last year it sold 500,000 ounces of gold to Northern Star for a transaction value of $60 million.

Mr L’Herpiniere said the company had about $50 million in cash and Northern Star shares, so had no imminent need to raise capital.

Meanwhile, Spartan Resources (ASX:SPR) has performed off the back of its Never Never gold ore body discovery in the Murchison region of WA. MD Simon Lawson said the company recently announced an updated Mineral Resources Estimate for its Dalgaranga Gold Project in WA, which revealed a 47% increase in ounces and 91% increase in grade.

“The high grade Never Never deposit was found under a haul road near an existing low grade open pit in mid-2022,” he said.

“It was followed by another discovery – the Pepper deposit in April.

“We just take that ‘have a crack’ approach.

“Plan A is to turn this into a gold mine.”

Torque Metals (ASX:TOR) MD Cristian Moreno presented ‘7 facts’ for potential investors to consider: The WA goldfields company’s capital structure, with 180 million shares on issue, its cash position and directors; the ‘best'(!) gold grades; the companies technical team; the tenement size and position; Torque’s investment in the ground; and, its efficiency – ‘we are doing 10,000 metres of drilling as we speak’.

He said the final reason was that he was ‘a Colombian determined to do well in Australia’ and Torque was focussed on working towards production.

Kingsland Minerals (ASX:KNG) has a graphite project within a couple hours drive south of Darwin, which is one of the largest deposits in the country.

MD Richard Maddocks said it was also one of the largest graphite deposits in the world; the NT Government was supportive; and, the company was looking to build a processing plant in Darwin to supply world markets.

“(Graphite) demand will increase with EV use increasing,” he said.

He said it was the only major deposit outside of East Africa or China and was in a good position to move it forward.

Next was Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) and it was the second year running that MD Alex Rovira’s delivered his pitch.

The company’s working in the Laverton, Menzies and Sandstone regions of WA.

As an explorer, it has 2 drill rigs now working.

The company has nearly 40 per cent institutional ownership as it’s about to be in control of 3 million ounces of gold.

Finally Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL) is a gold producer that’s worked in WA, Victoria and Tasmania. MD James Champion de Crespigny said it was a $400 million market cap company and had raised $50 million in a bid to open 4 low-capital intensity mines soon.

The company’s bringing together the operating Plutonic Gold Mine and infrastructure, and undeveloped gold deposits along the Marymia belt.  He said the deposits could be mined and processed through processing facilities at Plutonic.

Disclaimer: The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

The Nasdaq was up around 0.04 per cent. The Dow Jones, similar, but in the opposite direction, and the S&P 500 closed lower, dipping 0.2 per cent.

Tesla recovered nearly 4 per cent, after reducing its year-to-date loss to less than 20 per cent. Nvidia climbed a little more, gaining 0.6 per cent.

Amazon’s stock fluctuated as it officially joined the Dow Jones, replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance, slipping 0.16 per cent.

In the tech sector, semiconductor company Arm Holdings surged another 10 per cent, making it about 100 per cent over the last month.

After negotiations, Aluminium company Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) is moving forwards with the acquisition of lumina (ASX:AWC). in a $3.3 billion deal – representing a 13 per cent premium to its closing price last week. The companies have entered a Transaction Process and Exclusivity Deed which gives Alcoa 20 days of exclusivity.

The deal is supported by Alumina’s directors and major shareholders. Alcoa took a hit on market overnight, but Alumina might be one to watch today.

And another aluminium and building manufacturer and supplier CSR (ASX:CSR) has entered into a binding Scheme Implementation Deed with French multinational corporation Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, for a deal including cash consideration of $9 per share, with the board unanimously recommending shareholders to vote in favour.

Companies reporting today include: Oil and gas operator Woodside Energy (ASX:WDS), the previously mentioned Alumina (ASX:AWC). Buy now, pay later company, Zip Co (ASX:ZIP) and grocery juggernaut Coles (ASX:COL).

And in capital raising, mineral explorer Orion Metals (ASX:ORM), has issued nearly 300 million shares at $0.0046 to three private investors, raising $1.3 million for working capital and evaluating acquisition opportunities.

The Aussie dollar is buying US65 cents. Bitcoin is up nearly 6 per cent, hitting a two-year high of A$83,500.

Iron ore is sitting at US$123.50, up nearly a per cent. Crude oil’s gained 1.6 per cent to US$77.74, Gold has dipped a touch to US$2033. With natural gas gaining nearly 1.5 per cent to just below US$1.63.

Fleet management solutions provider Eroad (ERD) shot up 60 per cent. The raise comes after receiving a non-binding takeover offer from Volaris, a subsidiary of Constellation Software. The company is looking to acquire Eroad shares at $1.30 apiece.  

Siren Gold (SNG) has also made it up the ranks with gains of 12.4 per cent. The company’s ionic leach trial detected mineralisation 500 metres below surface at its Sams Creek project in New Zealand.

The company’s survey will now be extended to identify additional mineralisation to be targeted by drilling.

And Alto Metals (AME) climbed 25 per cent. The company was last trading at 6.5 cents.

Future Battery Minerals (FBM) dipped, despite striking further high-grade assays from its Kangaroo Hills lithium project in WA.

The shallow thick high-grade mineralisation remains open north and north west, with further drilling planned to test extensions to the mineralisation.

My Foodie Box (MBX) shed 50 per cent despite no further announcements since the start of June.

And emerging miner Elmore (ELE) has agreed to terms for around $45 million in new funding to ramp up operations of its flagship Peko iron ore mine in the northern territory. The company closed at 0.8 cents.

Despite miners being the heaviest drag on the market, Augustus Minerals (AUG) managed to buck the trend.

AUG lifted after confirming the presence of ironstones at its Ti-Tree lithium project in WA’s Gascoyne. Augustus shares climbed nearly 10 per cent on the news, to 28.5 cents.

Battery Age Minerals (BM8) has penned an early exploration agreement with Whitesand First Nation to begin drilling at its Falcon Lake lithium project in Ontario. 

The company announced that by working collaboratively with Indigenous communities, it can create long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships. BM8 was last trading at 45 cents.

De Grey Mining (DEG) has entered an exploration agreement with TSX-listed explorer Novo Resources.

The deal will see it expand its exploration footprint in the Mallina Basin in WA’s Pilbara region to more than 2500 square kilometres.

De Grey can earn 50 per cent of the Egina project by spending $25 million over four years. The company last traded at $1.37.

And Siren Gold’s (SNG) shares were on the rise after its ionic leach trial detected mineralisation below surface at its Sams Creek project in New Zealand. The company climbed 12.5 per cent to 8.1 cents.

Turning away from materials stocks, and The Calmer Co (CCO) has gained a 50 per cent uptick on the launch of its new eCommerce store in the United States to sell its FijiKava branded natural health products.

It comes following strong sales performances over the past quarter, with average daily sales figures of more than $2400. The Calmer Co’s shares were trading at 0.3 cents.  

And Helloworld Travel (HLO) has agreed to acquire Express Travel Group (ETG) from Tom Manwaring and Sintack for $70 million in cash and scrip. Company shares were last trading at $2.57.

The S&P fell 0.5 per cent after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned further rate hikes are likely. According to CME’s FedWatch tool, the odds of a rate rise occurring next month are nearly 75 per cent.

Big tech stocks weighed down the NASDAQ, sinking it by nearly one and a half per cent.

Tesla stocks skidded 5.46 per cent, and Nvidia was down 1.74 per cent. Delivery service FedEx also gave up 2.51 per cent after warning of fading global demand.

Back on Australian soil, research by property marketplace Domain suggests Australia’s housing market will recover from its 2022 downturn in the coming financial year. 

The data suggests some capital cities will see house prices reach record highs in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. Unit prices are also expected to climb in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.

The Australian dollar edged up marginally. One Aussie dollar is buying 68 US cents and 53 British pence.

To commodities, and iron ore retreated following People’s Bank of China lending cuts. 

Natural gas rose 3.81 per cent, while crude oil gained a 2.02 per cent uptick to US$72.62 per barrel.

Investment bank UBS released data from a survey conducted over the second half of May. The figures showed a decline in the financial outlook from Australian consumers, as a larger portion of spending goes towards essentials like rent and utilities.

The sectors saw eight of eleven close lower, dragged by the energy sector – down 1.3 per cent. Consumer staples and health care edged higher.

Boosting the healthcare sector was Imagion Biosystems (IBX). The company’s shares rose 16.6 per cent after reaching its enrolment targets for phase one trials of its cancer-detecting agent.

Exploration company Australia United Mining (AYM) announced its first bars of gold have been poured from its Ropewalk gold mine in North Queensland, producing a total of 200 ounces of gold.

And Bubs Australia (BUB) gained a 31 per cent uptick after reporting an increase in momentum to its sales channels in the United States. The company closed the day at 18 cents.

Communication company TPG Telecom (TPG) fell after the Australian Competition Tribunal knocked back the company’s regional network sharing agreement with Telstra.

Miramar Resources (M2R) slipped 24 per cent after receiving strong commitments to raise $1.5 million via a placement. The funds will be used to accelerate exploration programs at two projects in WA.

And copper exploration company Noronex (NRX) skidded after confirming a $1.76 million capital raising exercise.

In ASX news, Imagion Biosystems (IBX) has initiated plans to close its clinical study after achieving its enrolment target. The company has enrolled 13 patients in its phase one clinical trial, which will use the company’s nanoparticle technology to alter how MRIs can detect cancers.

The company plans to publish those results soon before using the data to lodge an investigational new drug application by early 2024. Imagion shares climbed nearly 42 per cent, trading at 1.7 cents.

Aurumin (AUN) has announced plans to drill four diamond drill holes at its Mt Palmer project in Western Australia. The 1000-metre program will aim to target lithium-bearing pegmatites. Company shares last traded at 4 cents.

Bod Science (BOD) has joined forces with Antah Group to commercialise medical cannabis products in Malaysia. Through clinical trials, the two companies aim to introduce and register medicinal cannabis in Malaysian health care. Once the trials are complete, Antah will have exclusive use of Bod’s product for sales and distribution. BOD slumped 2 per cent to 4.8 cents.

Sultan Resources (SLZ) has entered into a joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto’s (RIO) subsidiary, Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX). The deal would allow Sultan to continue the exploration of Kulin Hill at its Lake Grace tenure in WA. The company’s shares last traded 4.5 cents a share.

US stocks resumed trade overnight following the Juneteenth long weekend. The NASDAQ and S&P both gave up around 0.5 per cent.

10 of 11 US sectors fell, with the energy and materials sectors hit hardest.

Meanwhile, fresh data out of the US has shown a surge in homebuilding. There was a marked pick-up in the construction of new homes in May, plus more permits were issued for future buildings. The news comes despite interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Back home, airline Regional Express has forecast a loss of $35 million for the financial year.

Rex Airlines blamed the downgrade on supply chain shocks and a shortage of pilots. The news was a surprise, considering the airline’s earlier predictions of turning a profit.

The Australian dollar retreated nearly a per cent. One Aussie dollar is buying 68 US cents and 53 British pence.

To commodities, and iron ore retreated from a two-month high following the widely expected People’s Bank of China lending cuts. 

Capital Economics Head of China Economics Julian Evans-Pritchard said the cuts would lower the cost of new loans, as well as interest payments on existing loans. Iron ore is trading at US$112 per tonne.

Gold also took a tumble, down nearly one per cent to US$1936.48 per ounce.

One of today’s top scorers was Parkd (PKD), which saw gains of up to 21 per cent. This comes after the company secured a contract with one of Perth’s largest automotive retail companies.

The project will see Parkd designing and constructing a three-level car park and storage facility, valued at $4.46 million.

Another company making it up the ranks is Brightstar (BRT), which climbed 30 per cnet after announcing that it will recommence gold mining operations at its Menzies gold project joint venture in WA.

Olympio Metals (OLY) also increased 27.2 per cent ahead of a trading halt.

Ignite (IGN) has recorded losses of up to 42.4 per cent despite not releasing any news since April. The company was last trading at 4.2 cents.

Zeus Resources (ZEU) also toppled 41 per cent. This comes after wrapping up a phase one drilling program at its Mortimer Hills project in WA, returning encouraging results.

Middle Island Resources (MDI) also fell 16.6 per cent. The company’s shares were last trading at 2.1 cents.

In ASX news, Magnum Mining and Exploration (MGU) has appointed Chris Tanner as Project Manager for its Buena Vista iron project in Nevada.

Tanner will take responsibility for the short development and construction of a pilot plant on the Buena Vista site, prior to its proposed expansion to a full-scale production facility. The company was last trading at 2.4 cents.

Sovereign Metals (SVM) has commenced graphite operations at its Kasiya project in Malawi to produce larger volumes of natural graphite for the lithium-ion battery sector. 

Sovereign Metals is currently upgrading its in-country facilities, which includes a “significant” laboratory upgrade. The company’s shares climbed 4.35 per cent, trading at 48 cents.

SRG Global (SRG) has secured a $50 million contract with Water Corporation WA for specialist civil water infrastructure works. 

The company will construct an ocean outfall transition tower, associated pipework and other wastewater infrastructure assets. Company shares last traded at 71 cents.

Critical Resources (CRR) has executed an agreement in principle with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation for its Mavis Lake project in Canada.

The company aims to introduce regular community engagement for Mavis Lake, including project update meetings, as well as developing the foundations for an impact benefit agreement. Its shares were last trading at 4.1 cents.

And lastly, Zeus Resources (ZEU) has concluded phase one drilling program at its Mortimer Hills Project in WA.

The company obtained “encouraging” results, confirming previously identified pegmatites. The company was last trading at 5.4 cents per share.

While Wall Street remained unmoved after the US public holiday, European stocks followed Asian markets lower.

Investors have been watching China closely amid speculation it will pump more stimulus into its slowing economy.

The People’s Bank of China is expected to cut its benchmark loan prime interest rates today, following a similar reduction in medium-term lending rates last week.

Back home, the Reserve Bank is due to release its meeting minutes later this morning. The report will explain why the RBA made the move to lift the cash rate target to 4.1 per cent earlier this month.

And consultancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has become the latest global firm to disclose it has been impacted by the MOVEit Transfer software.

Last week, the US Department of Energy and other federal agencies were affected through the file transfer software, alongside global companies including Shell, British Airways and the BBC.

Russian-linked hackers used a flaw in the MOVEit software to gain access to confidential data. However, PWC says its networks have not been compromised.

The Australian dollar dipped. One Aussie dollar is buying 69 US cents and 54 British pence.

To commodities, and oil prices have fallen as questions over China’s economy outweighed OPEC output cuts. Crude oil slid nearly a per cent to just higher than US$72 per barrel.

True North Copper (TNC) skyrocketed higher, closing with a 391 per cent gain.

The company began trading on the ASX today, under ticker code TNC,  following its merger with Duke Exploration.

Another gainer on Monday was Clean Teq Water (CNQ), recording increases of up to 21 per cent. Earlier this month, the company made a technological breakthrough in water filtration that will address some of the current $1.2 billion per annum market size of nanofiltration. The company’s shares were last trading at 28.5 cents.

Augustus Minerals (AUG) also saw increases of up to 17 per cent after announcing on Friday that it will be pursuing multi-mineral discoveries in WA’s Gascoyne mining hotspot.

In other ASX news, Openn Negotiation (OPN) recorded a loss of 60 per cent on Monday, after announcing a $3.19 capital raise on Friday, along with a board restructure. 

Parkd (PKD) also fell 25 per cent today, bringing its share price down to 2.4 cents.

Noxofarm (NOX) tumbled 13 per cent after the company announced its registered office and principal place of business in NSW have changed.

Most sectors secured gains, with healthcare leading the pack, up nearly two per cent at midday.

In ASX news, Iceni Gold (ICL) has made further gold finds along the 15-kilometre-long trend at its Guyer target area in Western Australia.

The company recently discovered a nearly 1.5-ounce gold nugget, which it believes further supports the prospectivity of Guyer North. ICL was last trading at 11 cents.

Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX) has dosed the first patient for its phase II study treating a broad range of cancers. 

The company’s Starburst study is designed to investigate its treatment for patients suffering from a diverse range of solid cancerous tumours, including breast, cervix colorectal, lung and ovarian cancers. TLX shares were up 0.26 per cent, last trading at $11.44 a share.

Hillgrove Resources (HGO) has decided to proceed with the stage one development of its Kanmantoo underground copper mine in South Australia.

The company’s underground development of the site started in May in anticipation of a positive investment decision. The company’s shares were last trading at 5.7 cents a share.

Lithium Power International (LPI) has entered an agreement with Albemarle Lithium to sell its Australian subsidiary Western Lithium for $30 million.

LPI’s CEO said this deal will add significant cash to the company’s balance sheet. LPI shares last traded at 32 cents.

The S&P and New York Stock Exchange posted declines as Federal Reserve officials warned further rate hikes were likely. Federal Governor Chris Waller said inflation is “not moving” and more tightening is likely to be required.

Tech giant Microsoft reversed nearly two per cent from an all-time high, trading at US$346.62 per share. Tesla stocks gained a near-two per cent boost to US$260.54 apiece.

The US stock market is now entering a pause for the June 19th public holiday.

Back home, it appears the Reserve Bank is likely to keep hiking interest rates. RBA forecasts show the unemployment rate will need to reach around 4.5 per cent before inflation will be back within its target range of two to three per cent.

Financial markets are estimating a 60 per cent chance the RBA will raise rates again next month.

The Australian dollar climbed higher. One Aussie dollar is buying 69 US cents and 54 British pence.

To commodities, and iron ore continued to gain momentum, driven by hopes for more stimulus from Beijing. Iron ore is trading at US$117 per tonne.

Energy stocks surged ahead, up more than three per cent, with utilities and miners close behind.   

GreenTech Metals (GRE) continued to climb after confirming the presence of spodumene-bearing pegmatites at its Ruth Well nickel-copper project in WA’s Pilbara region.

The company also entered a services agreement with Obsidian Metals Group to fast-track its WA lithium exploration strategy. The company closed at 44.5 cents.

Jervois Global (JRV) received roughly $22 million in funding from the US Department of Defence.

The funds will be used to begin work at its Idaho cobalt operations mine in the US, sending the company’s shares upwards.

And Austco (AHC) surged after its subsidiary in Canada secured a $7.4 million contract – the highest in the company’s history. The contract will see Austco supply its industry-leading alarm management and clinical workflow solution to the new 548-bed hospital in Vancouver,

C29 Metals (C29) fell more than 22 per cent, despite not releasing any news since defining high-priority copper targets at its Sampson’s Tank project in central New South Wales last month.

Incannex Healthcare (IHL) dipped, despite announcing the recruitment of two principal investigators for its clinical trial for obstructive sleep apnoea.

And DGL Group (DGL) recorded a loss of 12.5 per cent. Despite the company meeting its revenue forecast to date, cost increases inside their operations have eroded margins, particularly within the environmental division.

In ASX news, Next Science (NXS) has appointed Harry Thomas Hall as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Next Science will now focus on commercialising its XBIO technology, which aims to reduce the impact of biofilm-based infections. Next Science was last trading at 55.5 cents per share.

Macarthur Minerals (MIO) has called on business development and marketing consultant Karlsson Group for a period of six months to steer progression at its Lakes Giles project in Western Australia.

Karlsson, which operates as Scandinavian Alliance, has agreed to provide services on an incentive basis, including 800,000 company shares. Shares in the company last traded at 23 cents.

Iceeni Gold (ICL) has confirmed the presence of a outcropping high-grade vein with abundant visible gold at Christmas gift. Shares at the company last traded at 11 cents.

Incannex Healthcare (IHL) has recruited two principal investigators to lead the second phase of its clinical trial for its investigational drug to treat obstructive sleep apnoea.

The lead investigators plan to use their associated facilities in Georgia and Texas as the first clinical sites for submissions to the FDA, and for ethics approval from institutional review boards. IHL shares were down 4 per cent, trading at 11 cents.

The S&P and NASDAQ logged 14-month highs. The New York Stock Exchange also climbed more than one per cent.

All 11 US sectors advanced overnight, with communication and tech stocks winning the day. Tech giants Microsoft and Oracle both gained an uptick of more than three per cent. Apple increased just one per cent.

While US jobless claims surpassed expectations, sales unexpectedly rose in May, with data showing consumers increased spending on vehicles and building materials. The news could help stave off a recession in the near term.

Turning to foreign exchange, and the Australian dollar climbed to its highest point since February. One Aussie dollar is buying 69 US cents and 54 British pence.

The euro hit a 15-year peak against the Japanese yen and a five-week-high against the dollar. It comes as the European Central Bank lifted interest rates to a two-decade high of 3.5 per cent, with the bank warning of more hikes to come.  

Iron ore sailed up to an 11-week high of US$114.50 per tonne. China is still considering a stimulus package for its real estate sector, with the commodity considered a key material to the building and construction industry.

Seven of 11 sectors finishing the day trading higher with tech the winning sector of the day, up more than a per cent.

GreenTech Metals’ (GRE) shares skyrocketed after confirming the presence of spodumene-bearing pegmatites at its Ruth Well nickel-copper project in WA’s Pilbara region.

Results from 22 reconnaissance rock chip samples returned “encouraging” grades of lithium mineralisation, measuring up to 1.65 per cent lithium oxide.

The company has also entered a services agreement with Obsidian Metals Group to fast-track its WA lithium exploration strategy. After a big day of news, the company’s shares shot up 223 per cent.

Errawarra Resources (ERW) also increased after revealing potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites across its Andover nickel-copper project tenements in WA.

And Midas Minerals (MM1) continued to climb a day after announcing its sampling program at its Greenbush lithium project in Canada returned up to 1.68 per cent lithium oxide. The company closed the day at 24.5 cents.

BMG Resources’ (BMG) share price slumped after exercising its option to acquire the Bullabulling gold project in WA.  The decision came after identifying LCT pegmatites at the project during a maiden drilling program.

IperionX (IPX) also dropped 32.92 per cent. The fall came despite achieving UL environmental claim validation for its low-carbon titanium metal powder.   

And Infinity Mining (IMI) slid 6.25 per cent, despite identifying anomalous rare earth elements in samples from Victor Bore in WA’s Central Goldfields. The company closed at 14 cents.

Turning to ASX news today, Patriot Battery Metals (PMT) has received core assays from a series of drill holes completed as part of its 2023 winter drill program at its Corvette property in Quebec.

Patriot’s Nova zone returned intercepts of 47.6 metres at 2 per cent lithium oxide, which extended more than 1.1 kilometres in strike. PMT was last trading at $1.90 per share. 

EcoGraf received a notice of allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for its patent application.

This is an important step in the proposed commercialisation of the EcoGraf HFfree technology, which will also comply with US Treasury IRA guidance on new clean vehicle credit criteria to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. EcoGraf gained nearly 10 per cent, trading at 18 cents.

Meanwhile, Biome Australia (BIO) has surpassed its sales revenue target of $7 million for the 2023 financial year.

The company is continuing to commercialise its novel clinical research, which will lead to a number of key product launches to improve health outcomes for new patient groups with unmet medical needs. Biome was last trading at 7.8 cents per share.

Vulcan Energy Resources has entered the final stages of mechanical completion for its Zero Carbon Lithium Project in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, Germany.

Vulcan is developing the largest lithium resource in Europe and aims to be a key enabler of Europe’s transition to electric vehicles. Vulcan was last trading at $3.8 a share.