The Australian sharemarket extended its decline on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 down around 1.6 per cent to 8,651.4. All 11 sectors traded lower, with energy and materials among the weakest parts of the market. The sell-off followed another rise in US borrowing costs, with the 10-year Treasury yield reaching 5.3 per cent and the 30-year yield hitting 5.65 per cent, its highest level in more than 20 years. Brent crude also pushed above US$103 a barrel, adding to concerns that elevated energy prices could keep inflation higher for longer.
In small cap company news:
Chilwa Minerals raises US$3.5 million ahead of Nasdaq listing
Chilwa Minerals (ASX:CHW) has raised US$3.5 million, or approximately A$5 million, through an underwritten US public offering of American Depositary Shares. The company’s ADSs are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol CHWM on 1 October New York time, while its ordinary shares will continue trading on the ASX. Proceeds will support further mineral exploration, working capital and general corporate purposes. For full announcement please click here and for the Prospectus click here.
Parbo Resources completes maiden drilling at Brians Mill
Parbo Resources (ASX:PRB) has completed its maiden aircore drilling program at the Brians Mill gold prospect within its Bryah Basin Project in Western Australia. The program comprised 75 holes for 4,737 metres across two target areas, including first-pass drilling along a previously untested structural corridor. All samples have been sent for analysis, with assay results expected in late October and follow-up RC drilling planned subject to results.
Horseshoe Metals advances copper stockpiles towards sale
Horseshoe Metals (ASX:HOR) has commenced grade-control work at its Horseshoe Lights Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia as it prepares high-grade direct shipping ore stockpiles for sale. The company plans to progressively prepare multiple 500-tonne stockpiles for sale during the fourth quarter of 2026 and into early 2027, while it is also reviewing several non-binding offers from potential offtake partners.
Syntara expands skin scarring clinical study
Syntara (ASX:SNT) is expanding its Phase 1b study of SNT-9465 for hypertrophic scars from 20 to 30 participants, while maintaining the study’s blinded design. The Skin Hospital in Sydney has also been added as a clinical site, with top-line results now expected in the first quarter of 2027. The expansion is intended to provide a larger safety, tolerability and exploratory activity dataset and is not based on treatment efficacy data.
Metallium completes 12-hour multi-reactor processing campaign
Metallium (ASX:MTM) has completed a 12-hour campaign using three Flash Joule Heating reactors at its Texas Technology Campus, processing platinum group metal-bearing catalytic converter material under reactive chlorination conditions. The campaign completed 12 test cycles and generated operating and engineering data to support further optimisation and scale-up as the company advances the technology towards commercial deployment.
