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The ASX200 has closed the day up .74 per cent at 7087.3 points.
Industrial stocks were strongest, gaining nearly 1.5 per cent with Brambles (ASX:BXB) (up 2.1 per cent) and Transurban Group (ASX:TCL) (up 1 per cent) both performing well; IT, financials and consumer staples also added 1.2 per cent – or more; but, utilities struggled the most, closing down about a per cent.
In the Green
Today’s ASX debutant, Freedom Care Group Holdings (ASX:FCG), managed to close its first day on market up 2.5 per cent.
The company was previously Resource Generation, which was placed into voluntary administration in mid-2021 when it failed to raise funding for a South African coal mine.
Resource Generation has bought Western Sydney-based Freedom Care Corporation in a scrip deal to start providing disability services under NDIS.
It raised $3.2 million with 20-cent shares through its IPO and closed trade at 20.5 cents.
Smart glass company, ClearVue Technologies (ASX:CPV) continued its upwards trajectory. It added 11 per cent today with its Annual General Meeting and news of its expansion into southeast Asia.
ClearVue has signed a five-year non-exclusive manufacturing and distribution deal for its Solar Glazing with H T Glass in Singapore.
Trade closed at 64.5 cents.
Augustus Minerals (ASX:AUG) gained more than 4.5 per cent after finding a large lithium soil anomaly at the Peak Bore Prospect within its Ti-Tree Project in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
Soil samples confirmed the presence of lithium oxide exceeding 100 parts per million and rubidium at up to 400 parts per million.
The AUG technical team is working on its exploration plans for 2024 and using these findings to set its priorities.
AUG finished the day at 11.5 cents.
In the Red
Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) lost about two and a half percent after the company’s Board ruled the revised takeover bid by a Brookfield-led North American consortium was “not in the best interests of Origin or its shareholders.”
The Board argued the new proposal was incomplete and didn’t provide sufficient certainty for Origin shareholders.
ORG closed the day at $8.19.
Elixir Energy (ASX:EXR) shed 9.5 per cent despite its news that the Daydream-2 well intersected the primary gas target Kianga Formation several days ahead of schedule.
The target in the Bowen Basin in Queensland took 19 days to find at just shy of 3700 metres deep. Elixir reported gas shows were strong and wireline and depth logging would be done within a week.
EXR closed the day at 9.5 cents.
And battery metals explorer, MinRex Resources (ASX:MRR) plunged 10.5 per cent as it announced the resignation of managing director and CEO Robert Boston. Mr Boston will step down immediately on mutual agreement with the Board.
He will be paid in lieu of notice.
MRR closed at 1.7 cents.
