The Australian sharemarket was virtually flat around midday on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.02 per cent, to 8,732.9 at 12.19pm AEST. The subdued session extends a sell-off that has pushed the benchmark down nearly 4 per cent this month and erased its gains for the year. The market brushed off a positive lead from Wall Street as expectations of further interest rate rises weighed on sentiment. Financial markets are now fully pricing in an RBA rate rise at next week’s meeting, following Governor Michele Bullock’s warning that upside risks to inflation were “materialising”.
In small cap company news,
IVE Group strikes deal to acquire Motio
IVE Group (ASX:IGL) has entered into a binding scheme implementation deed to acquire 100 per cent of digital out-of-home media company Motio. Under the proposed transaction, Motio shareholders would receive 6 cents cash per share, representing a 15 per cent premium to its closing price on September 18. The transaction remains subject to shareholder, court and other customary approvals.
ReNerve completes first surgical cases in Hong Kong and Malaysia
ReNerve (ASX:RNV) has completed the first surgical cases using its NervAlign Nerve Cuff in Hong Kong and Malaysia, marking the product’s transition to commercial use in both markets. The company now has commercial activity across seven jurisdictions, while FY26 sales reached a record $510,357, up 88 per cent on the previous year.
EBR Systems secures higher US Medicare reimbursement
EBR Systems (ASX:EBR) says US authorities have finalised higher Medicare inpatient reimbursement rates for procedures using its WiSE cardiac pacing system, effective October 1. Base payment rates for eligible procedures will increase by around 58 per cent and 93 per cent, with total Medicare payments potentially reaching about US$77,839 and US$66,566 respectively when the maximum available new-technology payment is included.
Neurotech doses first patient in Phase 3 autism study
Neurotech International (ASX:NTI) has dosed the first patient in its pivotal Phase 3 Beyond Harmony study of NTI164 in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Australian multi-centre study plans to enrol up to 200 patients and will assess the treatment’s efficacy, safety and tolerability, building on results from the company’s earlier HARMONY study.
American Rare Earths reports strong initial assays at Halleck Creek
American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR) has reported initial assay results from feasibility drilling at its Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming. The first six holes returned broad, near-surface mineralisation with an average grade of 3,497 parts per million total rare earth oxides, while 93 per cent of sampled intervals exceeded the project’s 1,000 parts per million resource cut-off grade. Results from a further 12 holes are pending.
