With more than 600k average monthly users on the HotCopper forums, each and every discussion can move markets. That’s why getting in front of those red-hot trends is key for every trader worth their salt. In this daily HotCopper Trends column, we break down the top Oz stocks through each trading day.
Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.
Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) was popular with HotCopper followers on news the first spodumene concentrate had been produced from the recommissioned processing plant in the staged restart of the Finniss lithium operation.
MD, Paul Brown, said the achievement represents a significant milestone in the staged restart of Finniss. It follows the recommencement of mining activities at the Grants Open Pit in May and the recommissioning of the crushing circuit in August to establish sufficient crushed ore stockpiles for processing.
“This achievement reflects the disciplined execution of our restart plan, from funding and mobilisation through to the recommencement of mining, plant commissioning and now the successful production of our first concentrate. All of this has been delivered on schedule and on budget, and within six months of the Final Investment Decision on Finniss,” Mr Brown said.
“We have now successfully achieved first concentrate, and our focus is on continuing the commissioning and optimisation of the processing plant as we progressively build towards reliable and sustained production.”
CXO was up 6.82% to 35.3¢.
Trek Metals (ASX: TKM) jumped identified multiple high-grade intercepts in the second batch of assay results from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the Kuro prospect within the Christmas Creek project in WA.
CEO, Derek Marshall, said results have confirmed a significant shallow, high-grade manganese discovery.
“These outstanding results confirm that Kuro is a significant shallow, high-grade manganese discovery, confirming that the high grades we saw in the first batch of results are being repeated across the system.
“What is particularly encouraging is that we are still in at a very early stage in understanding the scale of this opportunity. Phase 2 of the Kuro exploration drill program is now underway to see if we can find additional pods of mineralisation beneath the sand. Phase 2 holes are targeting newly generated geophysical anomalies over a much larger area than the original Phase 1 drilling.”
TKM rose 3.51% to 5.9¢.
Empire Resources’ (ASX: ERL) stock took off after the gas explorer announced it had signed a term sheet to hire the Valaris 107 jack-up drilling rig to drill the Judith-2 appraisal well off the Victorian coast.
The Judith gas field is rated as the largest undeveloped conventional gas field on the East Coast of Australia.
“Securing this drilling rig for April 2027 is a major step forward for Emperor Energy as the company pushes forward towards drilling the Judith-2 appraisal well,” CEO, Tim Handley, said.
ERL was up 57.1% to 1.1¢.
Market news
Looking wider, the S&P/ASX 200 was lower today, dropping 44.90 points or 0.50% to 8,966.00. The bottom performing stocks in this index are Bluescope Steel, Domino’s Pizza Enterprise, down 5.44% and 3.36% respectively. The index has lost 1.11% for the last five days but sits 3.56% below its 52-week high.
Elsewhere, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports the total value of Australia’s residential dwellings fell $34.1 billion or 0.3 per cent to $12.7 trillion in June quarter 2026.
Dr Mish Tan, ABS head of finance statistics, said the value of dwelling stock fell for the first time since the September quarter 2022.
“The quarterly fall was driven by lower property prices, with the mean dwelling price falling by 0.7 per cent to $1.1 million. This is consistent with recent softening in housing market conditions,” Dr Tan said.
In the June quarter, the mean price of dwellings fell in New South Wales (-2.4 per cent or -$32,700), Victoria (-2.1 per cent or -$19,600) and the Australian Capital Territory (-1.3 per cent or -$13,300); and rose in all other states and territories.
Despite this quarter’s fall, the value of Australia’s dwelling stock is 8.5 per cent higher than a year ago.
That’s Tuesday’s HotCopper Market Trends, I’m Colin Sandell-Hay - see you for close.
Join the discussion. See what’s trending right now on Australia’s largest stock forum and be part of the conversations that move the markets. 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.