At the time of writing, the Imugene share price is down 19.57% to 18.5 cents. The stock is now down roughly 40% since the start of 2026.

The company requested the halt yesterday while it prepared an update for investors.

Here is what the company revealed.

Imugene announces $20 million capital raising

According to its announcement, Imugene is planning to raise up to $20 million through a combination of a placement and a share purchase plan (SPP).

The company has already secured firm commitments for a $12 million placement from institutional and sophisticated investors. These investors will subscribe for approximately 66.7 million new shares at 18 cents each.

That price represents a 21.7% discount to the last closing price of 23 cents on 9th March and about a 20.8% discount to the 5-day VWAP.

Imugene will also launch a share purchase plan to raise up to $8 million, allowing eligible shareholders to apply for new shares at the same 18-cent price.

The SPP will allow investors to apply for up to $30,000 worth of shares.

Investors participating in the placement and SPP will also receive free attaching options. These options have an exercise price of 18 cents and expire in April 2027.

Why Imugene is raising fresh capital

Management says the funds will be used to continue advancing its lead cancer therapy program known as azer-cel.

This therapy is an allogeneic CAR-T treatment being developed to treat blood cancers.

The proceeds will support the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial of azer-cel, including expansion of cohort 2 and the new cohort 3 BTKi combination study.

The funding will also help extend the company's cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2026.

Imugene said the trial program aims to generate additional clinical data that could support future regulatory progress.

Encouraging clinical data emerging

The company has previously reported promising early results from the azer-cel program.

Early phase 1b trial results showed an overall response rate of about 82% in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.

The therapy is designed as an off-the-shelf CAR-T treatment that can be manufactured in advance rather than customised for individual patients.

If successful, this approach could offer faster treatment access and lower manufacturing costs compared with traditional CAR-T therapies.

What investors should watch next

Imugene plans to continue enrolling patients in its clinical trials and generate additional data throughout 2026.

The company is also exploring combination strategies involving BTK inhibitors, which could expand the therapy's potential applications.

However, the sizeable discount on the new shares appears to be weighing on the share price today.

The post Why this ASX healthcare stock has crashed 20% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA)

The Artrya share price is up almost 10% to $3.78. Investors have been buying this medical technology company's shares after it announced its second customer win in the United States. Artrya has signed a commercial agreement with Northeast Georgia Health System for its Salix AI-powered cloud platform. It is used for the near real time, point of care assessment and management of coronary artery disease. The company's co-founder and CEO, John Konstantopoulos, said: "We are proud to secure our second U.S. commercial customer through this three-year commercial agreement with Northeast Georgia Health System, a respected leader in patient care across the U.S. Southeast."

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CUV)

The Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals share price is up 4% to $12.81. This morning, this specialty pharmaceuticals company announced a significant expansion of its VALLAURIX Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Centre in Singapore. Management notes that this strategic five-year investment solidifies the site's transition into a global hub for developing advanced, long-acting peptide formulations. Clinuvel's chief operating officer, Lachlan Hay, said: "We are grateful for the support from EDB and are committed to building a truly unique, bespoke facility in Singapore. This positions CLINUVEL at the forefront of peptide delivery technologies, enabling us to execute our vision with speed and precision."

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 5% to 33.7 cents. This has been driven by news that the immune-oncology company has received written minutes from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following its recent Type C meeting. This is in relation to the registrational pathway for azer-cel. The company notes that the minutes "provide clear alignment across the key elements required to advance azer-cel into a pivotal study and further validate the program's growing clinical and commercial potential."

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The Pilbara Minerals share price is up 4% to $3.95. This may have been driven by a broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the lithium miner's shares to a neutral rating (from sell) with an improved price target of $4.00 (from $2.40). It made the move after upgrading its lithium forecasts on increased demand.

The post Why Artrya, Clinuvel, Imugene, and Pilbara Minerals shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is down over 2% to $1.17. Investors have been selling this medical technology company's shares this month after it revealed that the US approval process for its 3D MRI mapping system, NorthStar, has been delayed. Morgans remains upbeat, though. It said: "The share price has dropped 20% this morning, which we see as a complete overreaction. Therefore, a great buying opportunity has emerged. There are plenty of catalysts coming over the next few quarters which will drive the share price higher including the expected approval of the NorthStar mapping system. We have made no changes to our forecasts or valuation. We maintain a speculative buy recommendation on IMR."

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is down almost 12% to 37.5 cents. This follows news that the clinical stage immuno-oncology company has received firm commitments from institutional and sophisticated investors for a $22.5 million placement. These funds are being raised through the issue of 68.2 million shares at a 22% discount of 33 cents per new share. The company advised that the proceeds of the capital raising will primarily be used to fund the azer-cel program through to initiating a pivotal clinical trial in 2026. Post completion, Imugene will have a pro-forma cash balance of $64 million. With anticipated R&D rebates and other cost saving initiatives, it expects to have funding into second half of 2026. In addition, the potential exercise of attaching options provides for up to a further $36.6 million of near-term funding.

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont Corporation share price is down 5% to $88.27. Investors have been selling gold miners today after the gold price pulled back overnight. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index weigh heavily on the market today with a 2.5% decline. Despite today's weakness, Newmont Corporation shares are up approximately 46% year to date.

Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM)

The Pepper Money share price is down 3.5% to $1.86. This has been driven by the release of a broker note out of the Macquarie equities desk this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded this non-bank lender's shares to a neutral rating with an improved price target of $1.70. While the broker believes that the current environment is favourable for non-bank lenders like Pepper Money, it thinks that this is now firmly priced into its share price.

The post Why Imricor, Imugene, Newmont, and Pepper Money shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Clover Corporation Ltd (ASX: CLV)

The Clover Corporation share price is up 18% to 42 cents. Investors have been buying the specialist ingredients company's shares following the release of its half year results. Clover reported a 38% increase in revenue to $37.6 million and a net profit after tax of $2.4 million. Clover's CEO, Peter Davey, said: "We delivered a strong first half, with revenue rising 38% to $37.6 million, driven by our product and market diversification strategy and improved market conditions." An interim dividend of 0.75 cents per share.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 10% to $1.15. This is despite there being no news out of counter drone technology company. However, it is worth highlighting that the company's shares have been on fire in recent weeks despite the market selloff. So much so, DroneShield's shares are up a whopping 80% since this time last month.

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 6% to 3.7 cents. The catalyst for this has been the clinical-stage immuno-oncology company announcing that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to its allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy, azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel). This is for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Imugene CEO, Leslie Chong, said: "Receiving FDA Fast Track Designation is a testament to the transformative potential of azer-cel for patients battling relapsed or refractory DLBCL. We are committed to working closely with the FDA to bring this important therapy to patients as efficiently as possible."

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The New Hope share price is up a further 3% to $4.16. Investors have been buying this coal miner's shares this week after it released its half year results. Morgans was pleased with the results. In response, it has put an add rating and $4.90 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of almost 18% for investors from current levels. In addition, the broker is forecasting a fully franked 37 cents per share dividend in FY 2025. Based on its current share price, this equates to a sizeable 8.9% dividend yield, which lifts the total potential return to over 26%.

The post Why Clover, DroneShield, Imugene, and New Hope shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX stock is up 11% to 3.9 cents.

This compares favourably to a 0.4% decline by the All Ordinaries index in early trade.

Why is this ASX stock surging?

Investors have been buying Imugene shares after it revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to its allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy, azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel), for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The FDA's Fast Track Designation is an important regulatory pathway designed to accelerate the development and review of promising therapies that target serious or life-threatening conditions and meet an unmet medical need.

For Imugene, this designation brings several benefits. This includes more frequent meetings with the FDA to discuss development plans, the option for rolling review of regulatory submissions, and potential eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review if key criteria are met.

What is azer-cel?

Azer-cel is an off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy designed to overcome the logistical challenges of traditional autologous CAR T treatments.

The company notes that unlike conventional CAR T therapies, which require a patient's own cells to be collected and modified—a process that can take weeks—azer-cel leverages pre-manufactured donor T-cells for rapid treatment delivery.

Clinical data from an ongoing Phase 1b trial has been promising, particularly in patients who have exhausted multiple prior treatment options.

A critical unmet need

The ASX stock highlights that DLBCL is the most common and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and many patients experience relapse or resistance to current treatments. Azer-cel offers a potential breakthrough for these patients by delivering a more accessible and effective alternative to existing therapies.

The ASX stock's managing director and CEO, Leslie Chong, was very pleased with the news. Commenting on today's development, Chong said:

Receiving FDA Fast Track Designation is a testament to the transformative potential of azer-cel for patients battling relapsed or refractory DLBCL. We are committed to working closely with the FDA to bring this important therapy to patients as efficiently as possible.

Despite today's gain, the Imugene share price is still down materially on a 12-month basis. Since this time last year, its shares have lost approximately 64% of their value.

The post Guess which ASX stock is surging 11% on big US FDA news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

The GQG Partners share price is up 5.5% to $2.50. This morning, this investment company released its full year results and revealed a strong set of numbers. GQG Partners posted a 46.9% increase in net revenue to US$760.4 million and a 50.4% jump in distributable earnings to US$447.9 million. GQG Partners' CEO and executive director, Tim Carver, said: "The growth in FUM reflects strong performance from our investment team and another great effort from our business team. The increase in FUM led to net revenue growth of 46.9% to US$760.4 million during 2024. Net operating income increased 50.4% to US$577.9 million during the same period, reflecting an increase in average funds under management partially offset by an increase in expenses as GQG continues to invest in talent and overall business activities."

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 10% to 4.3 cents. This follows the release of a trial update from the clinical-stage immuno-oncology company. Imugene revealed more positive results from its Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating azer-cel in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Woodard said: "All four Complete Responses in Cohort B were achieved in patients who had failed at least 4 lines of therapy in this hard-to-treat population, including autologous CAR T therapy. This suggests that azer-cel, in combination with IL-2, may offer a meaningful therapeutic option where other treatments have not succeeded."

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

The Mirvac share price is up 4% to $2.08. Investors have been buying the property company's shares following the release of its half year results. Mirvac reported an operating profit of $236 million, which represents 6 cent per share. As a result, the company is on track to deliver on its full year guidance of between 12 cents to 12.3 cents per share in FY 2025.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The Temple & Webster share price is up a further 8% to $17.45. Investors have been bidding the furniture and homeware retailer's shares higher this week following the release of its half year results. Temple & Webster reported a 23.6% increase in revenue to $313.7 million and a 118% jump in net profit after tax to $9 million. The company's CEO, Mark Coulter, said: "Temple & Webster has again delivered a record half, with strong performance against all key metrics, against a challenging macro and consumer backdrop."

The post Why GQG, Imugene, Mirvac, and Temple & Webster shares are pushing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At market close yesterday, these three companies were leading the charge higher in the nascent new year.

You'll also notice a decided trend in the sector they operate in.

Which soaring ASX All Ords shares are we talking about?

Read on!

ASX All Ords shares setting the bar high for 2025

The third-best performing stock on our list (bumped from second place at Thursday's close) is Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU).

Shares in the ASX All Ords healthcare stock closed out 2024 trading for 3.7 cents. In afternoon trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for 4.3 cents apiece, up 16.2% in 2025.

Imugene attracted significant investor interest after the company released an update on a clinical trial last Friday. Shares leapt 12.8% on Monday.

Imugene reported that the first Australian patient had been dosed in the Phase 1b clinical trial at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in Sydney.

As the Motley Fool reported on the day:

This trial is focused on patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is one of the most challenging and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"Achieving first patient dosed for azer-cel in Australia represents a significant milestone for Imugene and for Australian patients battling this devastating disease," Imugene CEO Leslie Chong said.

This brings us to the second-best-performing ASX All Ords share of 2025 (moving up from number three at Thursday's close): Cyclopharm Ltd (ASX: CYC).

Shares in the healthcare stock closed on 31 December trading for $1.585. At the time of writing today, shares are swapping hands for $1.985 apiece, up 25.2% year to date.

The last price-sensitive news released by Cyclopharm was back on 20 December.

In a response to an ASX price query on the rapid gains posted, the ASX All Ords company said it was not "aware of any information concerning it that has not been announced to the market which, if known by some in the market, could explain the recent trading in its securities".

Cyclopharm added that it was "carrying on business in the ordinary course in accordance with its disclosed strategic direction and commercialisation plan".

At the head of the pack in 2025

At the head of the pack in these early days of 2025 is Silicon Valley-based EBR Systems Inc (ASX: EBR), which is focused on treating cardiac rhythm disease. (Did you pick up the sector trend yet?)

The EBR Systems share price closed out 2024 at $1.025. In Friday afternoon trade, shares are changing hands for $1.40 apiece. That sees this ASX All Ords stock up 36.6% already in the new year.

On Monday, the company, which is developing the world's only wireless cardiac pacing device for heart failure (WiSE), reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had scheduled the manufacturing Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) to commence on 14 January.

"This significant milestone brings us even closer to US commercialisation and to making available our life-changing WiSE technology to heart failure patients in need," EBR Systems CEO John McCutcheon said.

The post 3 ASX All Ords shares leading the charge in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT)

The Cettire share price is up 3.5% to $1.62. This is despite there being no news out of the online luxury products retailer. However, with its shares down over 40% since this time last year and 67% from their 52-week high, it seems that some investors believe that a buying opportunity has been created.

Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR)

The Gold Road share price is up almost 3% to $2.12. This follows a decent night of trade for the gold price on Wall Street. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up over 1% to US$2,668.8 an ounce during overnight trade on safe haven demand. This meant that the precious metal climbed to a two-week high. It isn't just Gold Road Resources that is rising today. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is up 2.5% at the time of writing.

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 2.5% to 4 cents. This morning, this immuno-oncology company released an update on its phase 1b clinical trial of its allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy azer-cel at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in Sydney. It is focused on patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is one of the most challenging and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the release, the first Australian patient has been dosed in the Phase 1b clinical trial at the RPAH. Imugene CEO, Leslie Chong, said: "Achieving first patient dosed for azer-cel in Australia represents a significant milestone for Imugene and for Australian patients battling this devastating disease."

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up 8% to $8.53. A number of ASX 200 uranium stocks are racing higher on Friday after industry giant Cameco announced the suspension of production at its joint venture with Kazatomprom. Cameco stated: "We are disappointed and surprised by this unexpected suspension and we will be seeking further clarification on how this transpired, as well as the potential 2025 and 2026 production and financial impacts (including on future dividends), and what Cameco can do to help Kazatomprom and JV Inkai restart mining operations."

The post Why Cettire, Gold Road, Imugene, and Paladin Energy shares are racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late morning, trade, the ASX small cap stock is up 5% to 4.1 cents.

Why is this ASX small cap stock roaring higher?

Investors have been bidding the immuno-oncology company's shares higher on Friday after it released a clinical trial update.

This update relates to the phase 1b clinical trial of its allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy azer-cel at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in Sydney.

This trial is focused on patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is one of the most challenging and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

According to the release, the first Australian patient has been dosed in the Phase 1b clinical trial at the RPAH.

It notes that azer-cel is one of the few allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies currently being evaluated in Australia. It offers an off-the-shelf alternative to traditional autologous CAR Tcell therapies, which require lengthy manufacturing processes involving a patient's own cells.

By utilising pre-manufactured donor T-cells, azer-cel has the potential to significantly shorten treatment timelines and expand accessibility for patients with limited options.

Promising data

The good news is that promising data has been reported recently from other trials.

The small cap ASX stock notes that it recently reported "promising data from its US trial sites, demonstrating the potential of azer-cel to deliver meaningful clinical outcomes."

In the US-based cohorts, three patients achieved complete responses (CR) despite having relapsed following multiple prior treatments, including autologous CAR T therapies.

It also notes that patients treated in Cohort B, which includes lymphodepletion chemotherapy and interleukin-2 (IL-2), have shown particularly robust and durable responses. This includes responses extending beyond 90 and 120 days.

'A significant milestone'

The small cap ASX stock's managing director and CEO, Leslie Chong, was very pleased with the news. Ms Chong said:

Achieving first patient dosed for azer-cel in Australia represents a significant milestone for Imugene and for Australian patients battling this devastating disease. The trial's opening at RPAH in Sydney reflects our commitment to accelerating the development of innovative, off the shelf immunotherapies that have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL. We are proud to bring this trial to Australia and look forward to expanding recruitment across multiple sites.

Despite today's gain, this small cap remains down by a disappointing 65% over the past 12 months.

The post Guess which ASX small cap stock is jumping on 'significant milestone' appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's a pleasing overall market return in anyone's language.

But for some stockpickers, it was a hard year.

Investors in the following five ASX All Ordinaries shares endured a teeth-gritting 12 months in 2024.

5 ASX All Ordinaries shares that plunged in value in 2024

Here are the five ASX All Ordinaries companies whose share prices declined the most in 2024.

1. Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR)

ASX All Ordinaries lithium share Liontown was the worst performer of the year in terms of price change.

The Liontown share price fell 67.88% to close at 53 cents on 31 December.

Operationally, last year was a momentous one for Liontown Resources.

In July, it officially transitioned from developer to producer with the first production of spodumene concentrate at its flagship Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in July.

But like all lithium miners, Liontown was negatively impacted by weak commodity prices last year.

2. Patriot Battery Metals Inc. CDI (ASX: PMT)

Patriot is the second lithium share comprising the five biggest losers of the ASX All Ordinaries in 2024.

The Patriot Battery Metals share price fell 63.72% in 2024 to close out the year at 41 cents.

Investors were dismayed when nothing came of discussions with US lithium giant Albemarle Corp (NYSE: ALB) last year. The companies ceased talks in May after spending nine months assessing partnership opportunities for a downstream lithium hydroxide plant for Patriot's Corvette Lithium Project in Canada.

3. Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

ASX All Ordinaries healthcare share Imugene lost 63.64% in 2024 to close out the year at 4 cents.

Some investors feel concerned about Imugene's financial position. The Imugene share price fell 20% on 31 October when the cancer immunotherapy company released its September quarter cash flow report.

The report revealed a significant cash burn that reduced Imugene's cash reserves from about $93 million to $54 million. That left the ASX biotech will only 2.3 more quarters of funding.

4. Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)

The Star Entertainment share price crashed 63.46% in 2024 to finish at 19 cents on 31 December.

The casino and resorts operator reported a $1.68 billion statutory loss for FY24. Star faced ongoing regulatory scrutiny last year, including a second inquiry into its suitability as a casino licence holder.

5. Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8) 

Finally, we have a third ASX All Ordinaries lithium share making up the bottom five stocks of the index.

The Wildcat Resources share price tumbled 60% to finish the year at 28 cents.

Regulatory scrutiny, weak commodity prices, and general market volatility impacted the mineral explorer.

In November, Wildcat refuted a news report of raids by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). However, it confirmed that ASIC had previously issued notices requesting documents.

On a brighter note, check out the 5 biggest risers among ASX All Ordinaries shares in 2024.

The post 5 worst ASX All Ordinaries shares of 2024 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Thanks to this bullish environment, stocks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) have climbed to new record highs.

Yet this rising ASX tide hasn't lifted all boats. In fact, some ASX shares are down by as much as 50% this year.

Six ASX stocks down more than 50% in 2024

Take luxury e-commerce stock Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT). Formerly a bit of a market darling, Cettire has had an awful 2024. The company has dropped over 57% from the $2.92 it started at back in January to the $1.24 share price it is commanding today.

It's a similar story for lithium stock Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA). Another former favourite of investors, Sayona has seen its share price collapse this year, going from 7 cents a share to the current 3.2 cents.

It's been even worse for graphite company Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR). The Syrah share price has tanked this year, falling from 66 cents in January to the current 23 cents. That's a drop worth 65%.

Syrah's story mirrors that of lithium hopeful Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8). Wildcat has also suffered a 64.4% decline and is currently trading at just 24 cents.

A familiar tale for many investors would be the story of the Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) share price. Star has had a horror year so far, with the company's shares losing more than 56% of their value since the end of 2023.

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU) is another former market darling that came back to earth this year. Imugene shares were asking 11 cents apiece back in early January. But today, those same shares are worth 64.5% less than that at just 3.9 cents each.

Time to buy?

Some investors, particularly those with a value investing bent, might be looking at these 'cheap' ASX shares and thinking that there might be a potential bargain to be found.

After all, if a company can stage a recovery from a drop of this magnitude, it can be very lucrative indeed. If a company drops 64.5%, for example, to 3.9 cents a share but then rises back to 8 cents, it would mean a 100% gain for investors buying today.

However, I would urge any investor entertaining these thoughts to exercise a very high degree of caution. If a company drops by more than 50% during such a bumper year for the markets, it means that investors are pricing in disaster.

For you to make money on a cheap ASX share in this situation, the markets need to be making a colossal oversight.

Investors are clearly anticipating that Star Entertainment, for example, will not return to its former glory days anytime soon. That's probably thanks to the company's ongoing losses and arguable failure to convince governments that it is suitable to operate its casinos.

The only way that one can make a conceivable profit with this company is to make a bet that this isn't the case.

Imugene is another example. Back in October, we discussed how Imugene had 2.3 quarters of funding left before its money runs dry. If you possess an in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, you might be able to see a path forward.

But that path better be there because the market seems to be betting that it isn't. The only way you can win here is for the company to prove it wrong.

Foolish takeaway

When a share falls 50% or more in a good year for the markets, it's usually for a very good reason. Even if you think the market is wrong, it is a high-risk game to bet money on it. So, if you do think there is a case for any of these 'cheap' ASX shares to stage a recovery, you'd better make sure your thesis is watertight.

The post 6 ASX shares down 50%+ in 2024. Are they cheap? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 4.5% to 4.7 cents. This morning, this clinical-stage immune-oncology company announced the opening of the first Australian site for its azer-cel phase 1b clinical trial. The release notes that the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney will begin patient recruitment in November, marking another significant milestone in the development of its promising off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR Tcell therapy.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is up 14% to $16.38. Investors have been buying this pharmaceuticals company's shares since the release of its third quarter update this week. Neuren revealed that Daybue net sales for the last nine months exceeded the full-year threshold of US$250 million for Neuren's first sales milestone income of US$50 million. In addition, third quarter royalty income came in at A$13.2 million, which brings the total to A$37.5 million year to date. Neuren also advised that it expects full year 2024 income to be A$216 million to A$218 million.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

The Sigma Healthcare share price is up 7% to $2.60. This pharmacy chain operator and wholesale distributor's shares have been on fire this week after the ACCC approved its merger with Chemist Warehouse. Sigma's CEO, Vikesh Ramsunder, said: "The ACCC decision marks a critical milestone for the proposed transaction and provides us with the conviction to progress with the next steps in the process. The proposed transaction has the potential to create a leading ASX listed healthcare company through the combination of the complementary strengths of Sigma's state-of-the-art pharmaceutical distribution infrastructure with Chemist Warehouse Group's retailing know-how."

Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)

The Smartgroup share price is up 4% to $7.98. Investors have been buying this salary packaging and fleet management company's shares following the release of a broker note out of Bell Potter. According to the note, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating on its shares with an improved price target of $10.00. Bell Potter said: "Traditional volume drivers continue to demonstrate cooling in the broader auto market. Upon closer examination, we view SIQ as reasonable buying at the current levels and review key developments."

The post Why Imugene, Neuren, Sigma, and Smartgroup shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is up almost 7% to 11.2 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner on Tuesday. However, it is worth noting that lithium miners had a good session on Wall Street overnight despite the market weakness. This appears to be rubbing off on local players today. Investors may be getting a little more positive on the industry. Especially given recent mergers and acquisitions activity, such as Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) signing a deal to acquire Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM).

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 4.5% to 4.6 cents. This morning, this clinical stage immuno-oncology company released an update on its Phase 1 MAST (Metastatic Advanced Solid Tumours) trial. It is evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS (VAXINIA). Imugene revealed that a bile tract cancer patient in Imugene's phase 1 trial remains a complete response, now surpassing more than two years in remission.

Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC)

The Lifestyle Communities share price is up 9% to $9.20. This follows news that HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) has acquired an interest in the retirement communities company. It paid around $8.50 per share for a 2.69% stake. It also has the option to acquire another 4.5% stake in a cash-settled total return swap. Given Lifestyle Communities' recent struggles, the market may believe that HMC Capital is going to force changes and turn around its performance.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is up 6% to $38.81. Investors have been buying the dip on this mining and mining services company's shares following Monday's selloff. Bell Potter thinks investors should be taking advantage of the weakness. This morning, it reaffirmed its buy rating and $61.50 price target. It said: "We continue to base our investment view on the fundamentals of MIN's business. Looking forward 12-months, we think the proposed changes will be complete, or near complete, and MIN will continue to be an attractive investment, and accordingly we maintain our buy recommendation."

The post Why Core Lithium, Imugene, Lifestyle Communities, and Mineral Resources shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX 300 stock is up 11% to 4.9 cents.

Why is this ASX 300 stock jumping?

The catalyst for today's strong gain has been the release of a clinical trial update on its Phase 1 MAST (Metastatic Advanced Solid Tumours) trial. It is evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel cancer-killing virus CF33-hNIS (VAXINIA).

According to the release, a bile tract cancer patient in Imugene's Phase 1 MAST trial remains a complete response, now surpassing more than two years in remission.

In addition, the ASX 300 stock confirms that its Bile Tract Cancer Expansion part of the trial has now cleared its first cohort. This follows the first three patients being evaluated for safety and experiencing no dose limiting toxicities (DLTs). Management notes that it is now open for full enrolment of up to 10 patients.

It has been a big 12 months for VAXINIA. The company highlights that it received FDA Fast Track Designation in November 2023 for the clinical program and its treatment of Bile Tract Cancer. This allows for closer cooperation with the US FDA to expedite the program and the subsequent approval process, including potential for accelerated approval and priority review.

This was then complemented by the receipt of Orphan Drug Designation from the US FDA for VAXINIA's treatment of Bile Tract Cancer in September, which provides a range of incentives in addition to seven years market exclusivity upon FDA approval.

Patent extension granted

Also potentially giving the ASX 300 stock a lift is news that it has been granted a patent extension in the United States.

Imugene has received a patent extension to 2040 from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for patent application number 16/324,541. This patent protects its oncolytic virotherapy CF33, including VAXINIA (CF33-hNIS) and CHECKVacc (CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1)

Commenting on both developments, the ASX 300 stock's CEO, Leslie Chong, said:

Imugene receiving this patent extension to 2040 from the US patent office is a significant milestone for the CF33 family of oncolytic viruses. The US is the core healthcare market, and we are delighted to strengthen the patent life.

We're also very pleased to see the two-year milestone reached for the Bile Tract Cancer patient who has maintained a complete response in our MAST study. Most importantly this is an outstanding result for the patient given the limited treatment options available, but also demonstrates the excellent potential of the CF33 oncolytic virus for this and other cancer types. We continue to enroll into the bile tract cancer expansion of the MAST trial.

The post Guess which ASX 300 stock is jumping 11% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One is racing ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) in early afternoon trade on Thursday, while the other is decidedly lagging.

Which companies are we talking about?

Read on!

All Ords ASX healthcare share tumbles on cash burn

Turning to the laggard first, the Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU) share price is down 8.5% at the time of writing, with shares trading for 4.3 cents apiece. That leaves the share price up 8% since this time last year. But shares have now tumbled a painful 61% in 2024.

The All Ords ASX healthcare share could be under added pressure today after reporting cash or equivalents of $54.3 million at the end of the September quarter. That's down from $93.1 million reported at the end of the June quarter.

The company said that net cash used in operating activities for the quarter amounted to $24 million, along with a milestone payment to Precision Biosciences for $14.4 million.

Highlights from the quarter included three complete responses in the company's azer-Cel Allogeneic CD19 CAR T Phase 1b trial in blood cancer (Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma). The trial, conducted across 15 cancer centres in the United States and with plans to expand into Australia, aims to address patients who have relapsed after multiple prior treatments.

The quarter also saw the ASX healthcare share receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug Designation for its VAXINIA product, which treats bile tract cancer.

And the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1 bile tract cancer expansion trial at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, with 10 patients set to be enrolled.

Which brings us to…

Paradigm share price lifts off on trial progress

The Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: PAR) share price is up 2.5% at the time of writing, having earlier posted gains of 17.5%. Shares are currently changing hands for 20.5 cents apiece. That leaves the All Ords ASX healthcare share down 51% since this time last year.

Investors have been bidding up the Paradigm share price after the company reported on the "substantial progress" it made over the quarter in its Phase 3 clinical trial preparations for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with its iPPS product.

Commenting on the recent achievements, Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals managing director Paul Rennie said, "The submission of our phase 3 protocol to the FDA is a significant milestone for Paradigm."

Rennie continued:

It represents the culmination of extensive work by our team and close collaboration with the FDA. We are confident that this progress, combined with the anticipated TGA [Therapeutic Goods Administration] response and our ongoing engagement with funding partners, positions us strongly as we move into this pivotal phase.

Our focus remains on delivering outcomes that will benefit patients and create long-term value for our shareholders.

As at 30 September, the ASX healthcare share had cash and equivalents of $13.14 million, down from $17.8 million at 30 June. Paradigm said it allocated "a significant portion" of its expenditure on research and development (R&D), focusing on advancing the Phase 3 clinical trial.

The company expects to receive $5 million to $6 million as part of its R&D incentive rebate.

The post 2 All Ords ASX healthcare shares making BIG moves on quarterly updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

The AGL Energy share price is down over 6% to $10.44. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Barrenjoey this morning. According to the AFR, the broker has cut its rating on the energy giant to underweight. That's the equivalent of a sell rating. It has also trimmed its earnings estimates and lowered its price target to $11.20 from $13.80.

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is down over 4% to 4.25 cents. This morning, the clinical stage immuno-oncology company released its quarterly update. Given that it is pre-revenue, Imugene was loss-making during the three months. The release reveals that it burned through a lot of cash during the quarter, which reduced its cash reserves from approximately $93 million to $54 million. It estimates that it has 2.3 more quarters of funding available.

Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)

The Star Entertainment share price is down a further 7% to 23.7 cents. Investors have been selling the casino and resorts operator's shares following the release of its quarterly update this week. The struggling company posted an 18% decline in revenue to $351 million and an EBITDA loss of $18 million. Management said: "There continues to be a deterioration in operating performance from a challenging operating environment and the continued implementation of mandatory carded play and cash limits."

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The Woolworths share price is down a further 2% to $30.26. This supermarket giant's shares have been sold off since the release of its first quarter update on Wednesday. Woolworths reported a 4.5% increase in group sales over the prior corresponding period to $18 billion. However, management warned that Australian Food EBIT for the first half is forecast to be below its previous expectations. It now expects "H1 F25 EBIT, including $40 million of incremental supply chain costs, to be within a range of $1,480 million to $1,530 million compared to $1,595 million in H1 F24." The team at Goldman Sachs remains positive on the company. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating on its shares with a reduced price target of $36.20. This implies almost 20% upside for investors.

The post Why AGL, Imugene, Star, and Woolworths shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is up 5% to $1.05. This is despite there being no news out of the artificial intelligence data services company. However, it is worth noting that Appen's shares were sold off last week. This could mean that some investors believe they have been oversold and a buying opportunity has been created. The Appen share price remains down 20% since this time last week.

Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT)

The Cettire share price is up 21% to $1.27. This morning, analysts at Bell Potter urged investors with a high tolerance for risk to buy this luxury products retailer's shares. According to the note, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating with a $2.00 price target. This still implies potential upside of almost 60% over the next 12 months even after today's gains. It said: "We continue to see plenty of upside in revenue/earnings from 3Q25 onwards considering overall improving demand conditions and benefits in CTT's lean business model, however with a higher near term risk profile priced into the name at current levels. Given the uncertainties ahead as the company resolves audit issues, we rate the stock as Speculative Buy."

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 8% to $1.43. This counter drone technology company's shares have been on fire in recent sessions. This followed the release of a bullish broker note out of Bell Potter last week. It said: "We remain confident the company will deliver a significantly improved 2H performance based on 1) the significant level of inventory on hand to facilitate rapid fulfilment, 2) the historical seasonality of the business with >80% of CY23 revenue recorded in the 2H and 3) numerous near-term sales opportunities, including recently announced military aid packages." However, its price target of $1.35 has now been surpassed.

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 11% to 6.9 cents. Investors have been buying this clinical stage immuno-oncology company's shares after it announced promising results from a trial. The 1b clinical trial was testing Imugene's azer-cel (an allogeneic off-the-shelf CD19 CAR T) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

The post Why Appen, Cettire, DroneShield, and Imugene shares are racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX All Ords stock is up 30% to 8.1 cents.

Why is this ASX All Ords stock rocketing?

Investors have been fighting to get hold of the clinical stage immuno-oncology company's shares after it announced promising results from a trial.

This trial is the phase 1b clinical trial with azer-cel (an allogeneic off-the-shelf CD19 CAR T) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). All enrolled patients had cancer that had returned following autologous CAR T therapy.

According to the release, 10 patients have been treated to date with Imugene's azer-cel in the Phase 1b DLBCL trial.

Cohort A saw 6 patients treated with azer-cel and lymphodepletion (chemotherapy), whereas cohort B saw 4 patients treated with azer-cel, lymphodepletion, and interleukin 2 (IL-2).

The ASX All Ords stock revealed that there were three complete responses. The first two patients treated in Cohort B achieved a complete response and one patient treated in Cohort A achieved a complete response.

'Delighted'

Imugene's chief medical officer, Paul Woodard, MD, revealed that the company was delighted with the trial results so far. He said:

We are delighted that the first 2 patients in the Cohort B in our azer-cel Phase 1b trial achieved a complete response and continue to maintain their complete responses, one for over 120 days and the other for over 90 days.

All four patients enrolled in Cohort B have failed 4 to 5 prior treatments, including autologous CAR T therapy. All 4 patients remain on the study and given the robust response rates and durability seen to date, we will continue to enrol patients in the azer-cel plus IL-2 cohort and will closely follow all patients for further responses and durability.

This sentiment was echoed by the ASX All Ords stock's managing director and CEO, Leslie Chong. She said:

I am proud of our clinical development team who assessed ways to enhance azer-cel's durability of response, as one of the biggest challenges in CAR T therapy is ensuring that the modified T-cells stay in the body long enough to kill cancer cells.

To maximise the response rates and durability further, we added a very low dose of IL-2 to the regimen in Cohort B. We are pleased with the results, which suggest improved outcomes in patients, and we look forward to amassing more data using this dosing regimen. We will continue to seek biomarker evidence from Cohort B patients that suggest our strategy is improving the performance of azer-cel.

The post Why this ASX All Ords stock is soaring 30% on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is up 13% to $1.29. This morning, this gold miner released an production update. According to the release, Catalyst Metals achieved annual group production of 110,000 ounces for FY 2024. This group gold production includes the first 12 months of Plutonic production under Catalyst's ownership following the consolidation of the Plutonic Gold Belt on 1 July 2023. The Plutonic operation produced 85,000 ounces for FY 2024, which is up from 60,000 ounces in FY 2023. This represents a 41% increase with only an $11 million increase in costs. Its CEO, James Champion de Crespigny, commented: "Now, with Plutonic stabilising, we are able to focus on developing Trident and Plutonic East which will see our production grow to over 150koz."

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up 6% to 5.4 cents. This has been driven by news that the clinical stage immune-oncology company has dosed its first patient in its trial for bile tract cancer patients. Imugene's trial is an expansion of its MAST Phase 1 trial. It was undertaken after early responses were observed in gastrointestinal cancers, and particularly bile tract cancers. The trial is testing Imugene's cancer-killing virus CF33 (Vaxinia). The company's CEO, Leslie Chong, said: "Given the results we've seen to date we are eager to see the potential of VAXINIA in bile tract cancer."

RED 5 Limited (ASX: RED)

The Red 5 share price is up 2% to 40.8 cents. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares this week after it entered into a restructured hedge facility and security package, repaid all outstanding loans, and restructured the hedging from the legacy Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR) common terms deed. It also revealed that preliminary group sales for the fourth quarter were 110,818 ounces of gold, bringing its full year sales to 455,259 ounces of gold.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The Telstra Group share price is up 2.5% to $3.82. Investors have been buying the telco giant's shares this week after it announced an increase to its mobile prices. This will see prices on most of its mobile plans increase by between $2 to $4 per month. Goldman Sachs was pleased with the news and believes it demonstrates that the mobile market remains rational. In addition, it boosted its earnings and dividend estimates to reflect the changes. This ultimately led to the broker retaining its buy rating and lifting its price target to $4.30.

The post Why Catalyst Metals, Imugene, Red 5, and Telstra shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two that are catching the eye of investors and roaring higher this morning are listed below.

Here's why investors have been buying their shares today:

DUG Technology Ltd (ASX: DUG)

The DUG Technology share price is up 7% to $2.67 after investors responded positively to an announcement out of the analytical software developer.

DUG Technology delivers innovative software products and cost-effective, cloud-based high-performance (HPC) computing as a service backed by tailored support for technology onboarding. Its expertise in algorithm development and code optimisation allows its clients to leverage big data and solve complex problems.

According to the announcement, the company has received delivery of the 1,500 AMD EPYC Genoa machines announced in February. As a result of the RAM upgrades to its existing machines and other purchases, DUG is no longer incurring third-party compute costs.

The ASX tech share's managing director, Dr Matthew Lamont, was pleased with the news. He said:

I am pleased to see our HPC capabilities grow in response to the demand we see moving forward. These are good times!

In February, Dr Lamont noted that the "AMD machines are needed to accelerate delivery of both current and imminent projects, and to support the unprecedented demand we continue to see moving forward."

Imugene Ltd (ASX: IMU)

The Imugene share price is up almost 8% to 5.5 cents. This morning, this clinical stage immune-oncology company announced that the first patient has been dosed in its trial for bile tract cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) patients.

This trial is an expansion of the MAST (Metastatic Advanced Solid Tumours) Phase 1 trial after early responses were observed in gastrointestinal cancers, and particularly cholangiocarcinoma, using Imugene's cancer-killing virus CF33 (Vaxinia).

Bile tract cancer is a rare disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the bile ducts. It is known to be difficult to treat and responds poorly to immunotherapy drugs. A total of 10 patients will be enrolled in the trial.

The ASX share's managing director and CEO, Leslie Chong, appears optimistic that Vaxinia could be effective in treating bile tract cancer. She said:

Given the results we've seen to date we are eager to see the potential of VAXINIA in bile tract cancer. We look forward to now advancing to the higher doses in the trial to gather further key data and make a genuine difference to patients in need of innovative treatment options.

The post 2 ASX shares roaring higher on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.