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

Good morning! Here’s everything you need to know, and some things you don’t, before the ASX flings open its doors and begins trading today.

Almost time to melt those US dollars like Kraft cheese. Pic: Getty Images

Good morning, and welcome to Rise and Shine.

Gold prices continue to hit new highs, closing in on US$3400/oz as the policies of US President Donald Trump erode confidence in the US dollar.

The White House is reportedly looking for ways to end the tenure of Fed Chair Jerome Powell early, a follow on from Trump's persistent complaints that Powell and his board of guv'ners have been too slow to cut rates.

Depressing stuff, unless you're in the market of digging up gold in the WA Outback. Prices could hit US$4000/oz, some experts believe (and Goldman has a wild upside case for US$4500/oz). Crazy times.

Speaking of crazy times, on this day April 22 in 1864 the US Congress passed the Coinage Act, authorising the minting of the two cent coin, the first to contain the US' eventual slogan 'In God We Trust'.

And so the slippery slope to Dogecoin began.

The copper 2c piece ran for just eight years, but you can hunt one down for around US$60 today, with the various iterations of the nickel putting the god-fearing coin out of circulation.

Find enough and melt them down and you'll feel safer than holding US treasury bonds right now.

On Stockhead today ...

COMMODITY/FOREX/CRYPTO MARKET PRICES

Gold: US$3389.83.12/oz (+2.25%)

Silver: US$32.86/oz (+1.40%)

Iron Ore: US$99.05/t (+1.59%)

Nickel (3mth): US$15,622/t (-0.39%)

Copper (3mth): US$9188.50/t (-0.16%)

Zinc: US$2577/t (-0.19%)

Lithium carbonate (Fastmarkets CIF China, Japan, Korea): $9100/t (+0.00%)

Oil (WTI): US$63.72/bbl (-1.48%)

Oil (Brent): US$67.00/bbl (-1.41%)

AUD/USD: 0.6416 (+0.63%)

Bitcoin: US$87,520.89 (+2.77%)

WHAT GOT YOU TALKING

In Kristie Batten's latest, which metals are moving up in a world of tariffs and trade wars?

In the latest from @kristiebatten, she looks at the corners of the resources market moving up in the world in the wake of Trump's tariffs. https://t.co/AxO8QhW0OR

— Stockhead (@StockheadAU) April 17, 2025

Also in the news…

• Garimpeiro columnist Barry FitzGerald takes a look at $10m prospect generator Kincora Copper (ASX:KCC) 
• Tim Boreham reviews the role EVs are playing in the novated leasing market
• Strickland Metals' (ASX:STK) drew investment from major Zijin for its Serbian gold projects
• Bell Potter placed a microscope on what US tariffs mean for Aussie biotechs
• John So tells Jessica Cummins his key stock picks for a tough market

THURSDAY’S ASX SMALL CAP LEADERS

Here are the best performing ASX small cap stocks:

Security	Description	Last	%	Volume	MktCap
VHM	Vhmlimited	0.38	58%	540915	$52,115,988
FTC	Fintech Chain Ltd	0.006	50%	101227	$2,603,078
HCD	Hydrocarbon Dynamics	0.003	50%	3038301	$2,156,219
TTI	Traffic Technologies	0.003	50%	1630346	$2,514,294
IRX	Inhalerx Limited	0.025	39%	77559	$3,842,068
AVM	Advance Metals Ltd	0.048	37%	53478891	$7,491,219
GTR	Gti Energy Ltd	0.004	33%	12737058	$8,996,849
NTM	Nt Minerals Limited	0.002	33%	28144907	$1,816,354
SFG	Seafarms Group Ltd	0.002	33%	172883	$7,254,899
SUH	Southern Hem Min	0.04	33%	5582258	$22,087,201
CDR	Codrus Minerals Ltd	0.021	31%	50000	$2,646,200
JBY	James Bay Minerals	0.565	26%	1090554	$32,337,347
8CO	8Common Limited	0.02	25%	165949	$3,585,518
ALM	Alma Metals Ltd	0.005	25%	100000	$6,345,381
AVE	Avecho Biotech Ltd	0.005	25%	35649	$12,677,188
ERL	Empire Resources	0.005	25%	75000	$5,935,653
HLX	Helix Resources	0.0025	25%	1639584	$6,728,387
NAE	New Age Exploration	0.005	25%	1282468	$10,637,596
OSL	Oncosil Medical	0.005	25%	728866	$18,426,321
BUR	Burleyminerals	0.055	25%	282551	$6,616,322
BUX	Buxton Resources Ltd	0.029	23%	2736466	$6,272,367
MKR	Manuka Resources.	0.037	23%	859504	$24,323,030
CMO	Cosmometalslimited	0.016	23%	943102	$3,627,030
PAT	Patriot Lithium	0.07	23%	899803	$7,205,824
WIN	WIN Metals	0.022	22%	8599302	$9,901,046

Thursday's Small Cap Winners included:

A $10m contract with Procurement Australia lifted Traffic Technologies (ASX:TTI) shares. The intelligent traffic control equipment supplier will furnish Procurement Australia with directional and instruction signs and safety traffic products intended for local councils across Victoria.

InhaleRx (ASX:IRX) executed a study order with iNGENū CRO Pty Ltd as a contract research organisation to oversee a Phase 1 clinical trail of IRX-616a, a drug candidate designed to treat Panic Disorder.

Bonanza gold peaking at 446 g/t gold has boosted Advance Metals (ASX:AVM) shares in early trading, rewarding the company’s drilling efforts at the Myrtleford project in the Victorian Goldfields.

Burley Minerals (ASX:BUR) stock jumped on launching a share placement and entitlement offer to raise up to $1m. The new funding will support a maiden drilling program at the Cane South target at the Cane Bore Iron Ore project.

THURSDAY’S ASX SMALL CAP LAGGARDS

Here are the worst performing ASX small cap stocks:

Code	Name	Price	% Change	Volume	Market Cap
OLI	Oliver'S Real Food	0.003	-40%	6832683	$2,703,660
PSL	Paterson Resources	0.006	-33%	3201641	$4,104,341
ASR	Asra Minerals Ltd	0.002	-33%	18929633	$7,119,380
CUL	Cullen Resources	0.003	-25%	3912550	$2,773,607
RLG	Roolife Group Ltd	0.003	-25%	531660	$5,984,125
SIS	Simble Solutions	0.003	-25%	30000	$3,505,321
TAS	Tasman Resources Ltd	0.003	-25%	153818	$3,220,998
ATH	Alterity Therap Ltd	0.007	-22%	2835639	$82,146,336
BPM	BPM Minerals	0.028	-22%	4728454	$3,142,812
AUR	Auris Minerals Ltd	0.004	-20%	2790268	$2,383,130
H2G	Greenhy2 Limited	0.008	-20%	986492	$5,981,842
IPB	IPB Petroleum Ltd	0.004	-20%	776932	$3,532,015
LNR	Lanthanein Resources	0.002	-20%	1260178	$6,109,090
MTB	Mount Burgess Mining	0.004	-20%	738635	$1,697,687
RAN	Range International	0.002	-20%	202782	$2,348,226
TEM	Tempest Minerals	0.004	-20%	84818	$3,172,649
AR3	Austrare	0.095	-17%	745343	$18,283,819
AMS	Atomos	0.005	-17%	62725	$7,290,111
FRX	Flexiroam Limited	0.005	-17%	80000	$9,104,392
MBK	Metal Bank Ltd	0.01	-17%	460107	$5,969,508
MEM	Memphasys Ltd	0.005	-17%	8733203	$10,626,089
MGU	Magnum Mining & Exp	0.005	-17%	400000	$4,856,168
M24	Mamba Exploration	0.011	-15%	50000	$3,837,153
PFT	Pure Foods Tas Ltd	0.017	-15%	200810	$2,708,512
WNX	Wellnex Life Ltd	0.29	-15%	106171	$22,822,628

Trading Halts

CZR Resources (ASX:CZR) - offer from the Robe River Joint Venture. Mark Creasy backed CZR announced post trade on Thursday its board's unanimous support for a $75m cash offer from Rio Tinto and Mistui for its Robe Mesa iron ore deposit.

Peninsula Energy (ASX:PEN) - completion of a review which may cut production guidance

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Rise and Shine: Everything you need to know before the ASX opens