The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a subdued session on Thursday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down a fraction to 8,949.6 points.
Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:
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Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)
The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price is up 8% to $11.33. This morning, the regional bank revealed the second phase of the Productivity Program to accelerate its progress towards its 2030 strategy. This includes a seven-year technology service partnership with Infosys (NYSE: INFY), which will significantly improve its IT service delivery capability and provide access to enhanced capabilities, software engineering, and AI talent to deliver greater capacity to innovate. These changes are expected to result in an annual run rate expense benefit of approximately $65 million to $75 million, which will be realised by FY 2028. In addition, it released a trading update which revealed unaudited cash earnings of $137.9 million during the third quarter. This is up 7.6% on the quarterly average during the first half.
EBR Systems Inc (ASX: EBR)
The EBR Systems share price is up 7% to 70.5 cents. This follows the release of a first-quarter update from the medical device company this morning. EBR advised that it expects to report revenue in the range of US$2.25 million to US$2.36 million for the first quarter of 2026. The company's CEO, John McCutcheon, said: "In Q1 2026, we made impressive progress across both our commercial and clinical programs. Case volumes increased strongly during the quarter, reflecting growing physician experience, expanding site readiness and the steady execution of our Limited Market Release."
Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX: STK)
The Strickland Metals share price is up 9% to 23.5 cents. This has been driven by the release of positive assay results from diamond drilling at the Obradov Potok prospect in the Rogozna Project, Serbia. Strickland Metals' managing director, Paul L'Herpiniere, commented: "Following recent discoveries at Red Creek and Kotlovi, these results continue to highlight the scale and endowment of the broader Rogozna system. We are looking forward to undertaking follow-up drilling as part of the 2026 field season targeting the interpreted core of the system at Obradov Potok, where we see a compelling opportunity to make a major new discovery."
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)
The Woodside Energy share price is up 4% to $33.27. This is despite there being no news out of the energy giant on Thursday. However, it is possible that investors believe Woodside shares were oversold yesterday after oil prices sank in response to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
