The Australian sharemarket slipped on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling 0.07 per cent to 8,810.9 at 1.50pm AEDT. The index reversed early gains of as much as 20 points after Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser warned that inflation was materially worse than the central bank’s forecasts, signalling difficult decisions ahead of its next policy meeting. Traders increased the probability of a November rate rise to 43 per cent. The decline came despite a rebound in US technology stocks overnight, which initially supported local sentiment.
In small cap company news,
LPE secures 15-year energy services agreement with Walker Corporation
Locality Planning Energy Holdings (ASX: LPE) has signed an agreement with Walker Corporation to provide embedded energy network services at the SOL by Walker development in Maroochydore, Queensland. The 15-year agreement covers electricity supply, smart metering, hot water, rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging infrastructure across two towers comprising 248 residences and commercial tenancies. The development is expected to add approximately 260 service points to LPE’s portfolio, with connections beginning progressively from late 2027. LPE will fund the infrastructure through existing resources, while revenue will depend on construction completion, property settlements and occupancy.
Smart Parking expects limited impact from new UK parking regulations
Smart Parking (ASX: SPZ) expects no material impact from the UK Government’s new Private Parking Code of Practice, which is scheduled to take effect on 21 December 2026, subject to parliamentary processes. The proposed regulations retain the existing £100 maximum parking charge, reduced to £60 for payment within 14 days, alongside the current £70 maximum debt recovery fee, which remains subject to further consultation. The Code also introduces minimum grace periods, additional appeal protections and reporting requirements. Smart Parking says many of the requirements are already incorporated into the industry standards it follows.
Orpheus Uranium reports rock-chip grades of up to 4.1% uranium in Northern Territory
Orpheus Uranium (ASX: ORP) has reported near-surface rock-chip assay results of up to 4.1 per cent uranium oxide (U₃O₈) from its inaugural reconnaissance program at the Conways tenement within the McArthur Project in the Northern Territory. Fieldwork identified radioactive anomalies extending across approximately 60 metres of strike, with selected samples also returning copper grades of up to 0.8 per cent. The results highlight a potential new uranium exploration target within the Pine Creek Orogen, although the extent and continuity of mineralisation remain unconfirmed. Further reconnaissance, sampling and geophysical assessment are underway, with additional assay results expected in December 2026.
Mount Ridley achieves 95% gallium recovery in bauxite processing test
Mount Ridley Mines (ASX: MRD) has reported 95 per cent gallium recovery from the first third-party test of its patent-pending Selectro process using bauxite sourced from Australian Silica Quartz Group’s Darling Range project in Western Australia. The same single-stage leaching test achieved recoveries of 92 per cent for aluminium and 97 per cent for iron at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius, leaving a silica-rich residue rather than conventional red mud. The results demonstrate the process’s potential to recover multiple metals from bauxite, although further development is required. Mount Ridley will now focus on separating and purifying the recovered metals, alongside additional testwork and plans for a demonstration plant.
Cleo Diagnostics reports strong early results for ovarian cancer screening test
Cleo Diagnostics (ASX: COV) has reported that its prototype ovarian cancer screening test met or exceeded all predefined performance targets in an initial proof-of-concept study involving 247 women. Among 62 Stage I ovarian cancer cases, the test achieved 92.2 per cent sensitivity and 98.7 per cent specificity under its high-risk screening criteria, while its general population screening model recorded 75 per cent sensitivity and 100 per cent specificity. The prototype also outperformed the established CA125 biomarker in the retrospective study. Cleo will now progress to larger independent studies and prospective evaluations to assess whether the initial results can be replicated in intended-use populations, while separately advancing its pre-surgical ovarian cancer test towards a planned US FDA submission.
