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

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

The Navigator Global share price is up 7% to $2.45. This follows the release of a quarterly assets under management (AUM) update from the investment company this morning. Navigator Global revealed that AUM was US$31.6 billion at the end of March. This is up 9% over the quarter and 16% from last year. It advised that growth was driven by a mix of inflows and investment performance across its platform.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up 6% to 72.5 cents. This has been driven by the release of a production update from the gold miner this morning. St Barbara revealed that it expects to increase its gold production to 200,000 ounces per year by 2030. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 59%. The company's managing director, Andrew Strelein, said: "St Barbara's recent breakthroughs with the Mining Lease Extension and now FID on the New Simberi Gold Project, the permitting of the Touquoy Restart and the impressive results of the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study set up the Company for an attractive gold production CAGR of 59% lifting attributable production to over 190koz in FY30 and more than 200koz in FY31."

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 2% to $3.59. This morning, the lithium developer revealed that it has entered into a 40 million euros major project framework agreement with Siemens for the supply of engineering, automation, telecommunications, and building technology systems. Vulcan Energy's managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: "The signing of this framework agreement with Siemens AG builds on our established partnership with the broader Siemens group which shares Vulcan's commitment to innovation and sustainability. We are pleased to be working alongside Siemens who have a vast local presence and history working in the broader region, and bring decades of experience in delivering engineering, automation, telecommunications, and digital technology systems to similar types of industrial projects."

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up a further 11% to $2.58. This buy now pay later provider's shares have been racing higher since the release of its third-quarter update at the end of last week. Zip reported record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter, which represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period. In light of its stronger than expected performance, management now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year. This is up from its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

The post Why Navigator Global, St Barbara, Vulcan Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company expects to produce 48,000 ounces of gold in 2027, with production growing strongly from then on.

Company is cashed up

St Barbara added that it is fully-funded to meet the upcoming capital requirements of its growth projects, using cash on hand and expected cash flow from the Touqouy project restart and then the New Simberi Gold Project.

The Touquoy restart is expected to cost the company US$6 million in the first half of FY27 the company said, while New Simberi in Papua New Guinea would cost US$108 million over FY27-28.

The company's 15 Mile processing hub was then expected to cost US$201 million in FY29.

The company said in its statement to the ASX:

The production outlook combines the most recently approved Initial Life of Mine Plan for the New Simberi Gold Project which was completed concurrently with the Final Investment Decision (FID) (announced on 2 April 2026), the Pre-Feasibility Study on 15-Mile Processing Hub Project released on 21 January 2026 and the Touquoy Restart released on 13 April 2026. St Barbara anticipates attributable production rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 59% from 48 koz in FY27 to 191 koz in FY30.

Hitting milestones

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said regarding the forecast:

St Barbara's recent breakthroughs with the Mining Lease Extension and now FID on the New Simberi Gold Project, the permitting of the Touquoy Restart and the impressive results of the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study set up the Company for an attractive gold production CAGR of 59% lifting attributable production to over 190koz in FY30 and more than 200koz in FY31. The Lingbao transaction ensures the Company is fully funded for development of these projects based on existing cash of more than A$500 million and cashflow from remnant Simberi oxides and the Touquoy Restart. This has been an incredible effort by the entire team with support from our partners and the relationships established with regulators in each jurisdiction through perseverance and ongoing engagement.

The Lingbao transaction refers to the deal finalised on April 2 under which Lingbao Gold Group paid St Barbara $389 million for a 40% stake in the New Simberi project.

St Barbara shares were 0.7% lower at 68 cents on Monday morning.

The company is valued at $829 million.

The post This ASX gold company has revealed a major boost to production over the next 4 years 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 tumbling:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk Company share price is down almost 15% to $7.90. Investors have been selling the infant formula company's shares after it downgraded its guidance for FY 2026 due to supply chain disruptions. A2 Milk now expects revenue growth in the low to mid double-digit range, which is down from its previous guidance of mid double-digit growth. Furthermore, its EBITDA margins are now expected to be between 14% and 14.5% in FY 2026. This is down from its prior guidance of 15.5% to 16%. In light of this, the company's net profit after tax is now expected to be similar to or lower than in FY 2025. Another negative is that cash conversion is expected to fall significantly to around 50%. This is down from prior expectations of 80% for the financial year.

Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM)

The Metallium share price is down 4% to 61 cents. This morning, the metals recovery company released its quarterly update and reported an operating cash outflow of $5.7 million and an investing activities outflow of $15.2 million. However, thanks to a $75 million capital raising, the company finished the period with cash and equivalents of $82 million.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 3.5% to $23.60. Investors have been selling Northern Star and other ASX gold stocks on Monday after the gold price pulled back following the failure of peace talks between the US and Iran. And with the US now threatening to blockade Iranian ports, causing oil prices to surge beyond US$100 a barrel again, there are concerns that inflation could rise and lead to interest rate hikes. The latter is seen as a negative for gold.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down 3% to 70.2 cents. Not even the release of this gold miner's quarterly update this morning has been able to offset weakness in the gold industry. St Barbara reported a 49% jump in gold production to 13,522 ounces. This underpinned gold sales of 11,974 ounces at an average sale price of A$6,892 per ounce. The company has not finalised its all-in sustaining costs for the third quarter. However, it revealed that it expects a fourth-quarter AISC in the range of $4,100 to $4,500 per ounce.

The post Why A2 Milk, Metallium, Northern Star, and St Barbara shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed Friday trading for 72.5 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 71 cents apiece, down 2.1%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.4% at this same time. And, in a better comparison of golden apples to golden apples, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 3.4%.

That comes as the gold price fell 2% to US$4,668 per ounce overnight after failed peace talks with Iran saw US President Donald Trump vow to blockade the Strait of Hormuz to starve Iran of funds.

Despite today's dip, the St Barbara share price remains up a very impressive 193.8% over 12 months.

Now, here's what the Aussie gold miner just reported.

ASX 300 gold stock gets restart green light

Before market open, St Barbara announced that the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) had approved amendments to the Industrial Approval permit conditions to allow the Touquoy Restart.

The ASX 300 gold stock expects to recommence ore processing at its Touquoy gold mine, located in Canada, by the end of calendar year 2026.

In early February, St Barbara earmarked C$2.9 million (AU$3.0 million) to accelerate the refurbishment of the Touquoy processing facility.

The gold miner forecasts operating cash flow from the Touquoy Restart will be C$118 million at US$4,000 per ounce over a 13-month period. St Barbara said it anticipates gold production of 38,000 ounces over this time, stemming from 3.0 million tonnes of stockpiles grading 0.4 grams of gold per tonne.

"This will be a big confidence boost to the industry," St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said.

Strelein added:

We are very pleased to have received approval of Industrial Approval permit conditions necessary for the restart of Touquoy. This approval has been received within the Province's target timeframe for approvals and demonstrates the constructive engagement and sense of urgency of the new Large Infrastructure File Team within the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

St Barbara quarterly gold production surges

In a separate price-sensitive release this morning, the ASX 300 gold stock reported its preliminary third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results.

Highlights for the three months included gold production of 13,522 ounces, up 49% quarter on quarter. Gold sales in the March quarter came to 11,974 ounces. St Barbara received an average sale price of AU$6,892 per ounce.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the ASX 300 gold stock forecast gold production in the range of 14,000 to 17,000 ounces from the New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea. St Barbara's anticipated 40% attributable share of gold production is forecast to be in the range of 5,600 to 6,800 ounces in Q4.

The post Up 194% in a year, ASX 300 gold stock gets 'big confidence boost' from Canada appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In midday trade, the shares are down 0.46% to 65.2 cents.

The decline comes even though the update materially improves the company's funding position and clears the way for its next major development phase.

After the stock's strong recovery in recent months, it appears some investors may be using the news as an opportunity to lock in gains.

Here's what the market is weighing up.

Simberi deal completion clears the way for construction

According to the release, St Barbara has completed the strategic investment by Lingbao Gold Group and received $389 million in cash proceeds.

This includes the previously agreed $370 million plus a $19 million adjustment linked to working capital and cash holdings.

At the same time, both parties approved the final investment decision to begin construction of the New Simberi Gold Project. The total construction cost is estimated at US$333 million.

St Barbara said its share of the remaining development funding is fully covered, with only 50% of remaining costs to be funded from this point following the ownership reset.

Site works are expected to begin immediately.

The company also expects to recognise an unaudited gain on sale of about $500 million in its FY26 results. Management said there should be no tax leakage from the Lingbao transaction.

Management says execution risk has now eased

Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein said the transaction completion and final investment decision mark a major turning point in the company's outlook.

He said:

Today's completion of the Lingbao transaction and approval of the FID represents a major milestone for St Barbara.

Strelein added that the deal leaves the company fully funded for development and said the FID reduces execution risk as Simberi moves into its next production phase.

The expanded operation is expected to increase ore treatment capacity to 10Mtpa from 3.5Mtpa and lift annual gold production to more than 200,000 ounces.

St Barbara also said the updated mine plan points to an expected all-in sustaining cost of between US$1,100 and US$1,400 per ounce.

Ore reserves alone are expected to support a mine life of at least 13 years.

Foolish Takeaway

With the funding now locked in and development approved, the next phase for investors is all about execution.

The key question is whether management can keep the Simberi build on schedule and within the US$333 million budget while progressing toward the targeted annual production.

If management delivers on that pathway, today's share price weakness could prove to be a buying opportunity.

The post This beaten-down ASX gold stock just cleared a major hurdle. So why are investors selling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 57 cents. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 58 cents apiece, up 1.8%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.1% at this same time.

If you've been paying close attention to the boards, you might have noticed that St Barbara shares joined the ASX 300 at market open this Monday. That came as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices quarterly rebalance, after the gold miner's market cap more than doubled over the past year.

Now, here's what's grabbing investor interest today.

ASX 300 gold stock lifts on investment approval

The St Barbara share price is marching higher after the miner announced that the transaction with the Lingbao Gold Group's investment in the New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea, has been approved.

The ASX 300 gold stock said that all outstanding conditions precedent regarding the Initial Life of Mine Plan, the Construction Work Program, Budget for New Simberi, and the finalisation of agreements with Kumul Mineral Holdings have now been satisfied.

Lingbao and St Barbara also committed to making a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the New Simberi Gold Project at completion, which is targeted for 1 April.

St Barabra expects to book a gain on sale of around $500 on the Lingbao transaction.

Lingbao is acquiring its interest in the New Simberi Gold Project for $370 million in cash. The ASX 300 gold stock said that the retention of its equivalent interest realises a total value of at least $740 million, which is around $500 million more than its expected carrying value for the Simberi business unit prior to Lingbao's investment.

What did management say?

Commenting on the investment approval boosting the ASX 300 gold stock today, St Barbara managing director and CEO Andrew Strelein said, "The satisfaction of the final conditions precedent on the Lingbao Transaction allows St Barbara and Lingbao to now move forward to completion."

Strelein added:

We anticipate that the Kumul deal will also close on the 1 April 2026 with only two PNG government approvals now required. Any delay with those final approvals does not impact the timing of the completion of the Lingbao Transaction.

This is a pivotal moment for St Barbara as we unlock significant immediate value for the company, while opening up a new future for our business as we move to execute the New Simberi Gold Project and deliver value to our shareholders and to our stakeholders in PNG.

With today's intraday gains factored in, shares in the ASX 300 gold stock are up 164% in 12 months.

The post Guess which newly minted ASX 300 gold stock is lifting off today on $500 million news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But not today.

St Barbara shares closed on Friday trading for 57.5 cents. In early morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 54.5 cents apiece, down 5.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 2% at this same time, while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 4.7%.

Despite today's retrace, shares in the ASX All Ords gold stock remain up 147.7% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 3.7% 12-month gains delivered by the All Ords.

Atop ongoing pressure in the gold price, here's what investors are mulling over today.

ASX All Ords gold stock sinks amid project update

St Barbara shares are sliding today despite a positive update on the miner's New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea.

The ASX All Ords gold stock said it expects to complete both the Lingbao and Kumul transactions in the first days of April. The Final Investment Decision (FID) on Simberi will then be triggered on the same date.

At completion, St Barbara will receive a $370 million cash payment from Lingbao.

Commenting on the progress, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said, "The receipt of Lingbao's approval from Chinese and PNG regulators is very positive step and satisfies a key condition precedent in completion of the transactions."

Strelein added:

The parties have been targeting the end of March quarter for completion and St Barbara remains confident the remaining conditions will be met to allow completion on track in the first days of April 2026 and declaring Final Investment Decision on the New Simberi Gold Project.

Energy update

Amid the rising global energy crisis fuelled by the war in Iran, St Barbara also sought to ease investor concerns about its diesel requirements.

The ASX All Ords gold stock revealed it had received various inquiries about Simberi's fuel stocks, given the impact on global diesel supply chains amid the attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The gold miner noted that its Simberi project is "well stocked" with diesel fuel.

Which is a good thing, as the Simberi Operations currently use about 65,000 litres of diesel per day for the mining fleet and power generation.

According to the release:

Current diesel supply stored on Simberi Island is approximately 4.7 million litres (sufficient to cover more than two months' usage), with another 3.5 million litres in allocated storage in country at Lae and Port Moresby storage locations.

Pleasingly, St Barbara noted that the majority of its diesel stockpile was paid for based on average January (pre-conflict) pricing.

The post Up 148% in a year, ASX All Ords gold stock sinking today amid $370 million news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 75.5 cents. In morning trade on Friday, shares are swapping hands for 76.5 cents each, up 1.3%.

This sees the St Barbara share price up a jaw-dropping 194.2% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 8% one-year gains delivered by the benchmark index.

Today, the miner released its half-year results for the six months to 31 December (H1 FY 2026).

Here are the highlights.

ASX All Ords gold stock swings back to profit

The St Barbara share price is marching higher with the company reporting a 32% year-on-year increase in revenue from ordinary activities to $128.8 million.

The ASX All Ords gold stock also notched a big improvement in earnings, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) coming in at $8.56 million, up from a loss of $39.8 million in H1 FY 2025.

On the cost front, the miner spent $40.5 million on growth capital, studies, and exploration, up from $23.9 million in H1 FY 2025.

And investors will have noted that the miner has swung to a profit, with underlying profit after tax of $1.3 million, up from a loss of $48.1 million in the prior corresponding half.

St Barbara's statutory loss after tax of $249,000 was also a big improvement from the $48.5 million loss reported a year ago.

The ASX All Ords gold stock's focus remains the development of its New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea, and the development of its 15 Mile Processing Hub Project, located in Canada.

Turning to the balance sheet, St Barbara had cash on hand of $74.8 million as at 31 December.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results that are helping to boost the ASX All Ords gold stock today, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said:

We have delivered a number of project milestones in the first half with the delivery of the Feasibility Study for the New Simberi Gold Project, the Touquoy Restart Pre-Feasibility and, subsequent to the end of the December half year we announced the results of Pre-Feasibility Study for 15-Mile Processing Hub

In December, the company announced combined agreements with Lingbao Gold and the PNG government owned Kumul Minerals enabling the New Simberi Gold Project to progress to FID, with St Barbara to be fully funded for its share of development costs whilst retaining a 40% attributable share in the expanded operation.

St Barbara also updated its Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement this morning.

The ASX All Ords gold stock reported Total Ore Reserves of 3.8 million ounces of contained gold and Total Mineral Resources of 7.9 million ounces of contained silver.

"For the first time at Simberi we have also reported Mineral Resources of 15.3 million ounces of contained silver and Ore Reserves of 4.5 million ounces of contained silver," Strelein said.

The post Up 194% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords gold stock lifting off again on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company's shares were lifted from a trading halt this morning following the announcement. At the time of writing, the St Barbara share price is up 4.05 % to 77 cents, after closing at 74 cents before the halt on Tuesday.

Simberi mining lease extension approved

In an ASX release today, St Barbara confirmed that the Simberi Mining Lease (ML 136) has been formally extended to 2038.

The approval relates to the New Simberi Gold Project and provides long-term certainty over the company's most important operating asset. The extension aligns with the current mine plan and is based on proven and probable ore reserves outlined in the Simberi feasibility study.

This was one of the key issues holding the project back and now allows St Barbara to move ahead with its next phase.

What the approval unlocks

St Barbara has been planning a major expansion at Simberi, including a move into sulphide ore mining. That expansion is expected to significantly lift gold production and extend the mine's life.

According to the company, the mining lease extension was an important requirement for funding and ownership changes linked to the project. With the lease now extended, St Barbara expects to move toward a final investment decision later in FY26.

The company has previously said the expanded Simberi operation could produce more than 200,000 ounces of gold each year. That would mark a significant increase from current production levels.

Strategic partners now move closer

Today's approval also satisfies a key condition tied to previously announced agreements with Lingbao Gold Group and Kumul Minerals Holdings, PNG's state-owned mining entity.

Under those agreements, Lingbao is set to acquire a 50 % interest in St Barbara Mining, while Kumul is expected to take a 20 % stake in the Simberi Gold Project. Both transactions were dependent on the mining lease extension being finalised.

St Barbara said the lease extension allows these transactions to move forward as planned.

What happens next

Alongside the lease update, St Barbara also released its quarterly results, showing Simberi continues to generate cash despite recent operational challenges.

With the lease extension now locked in, investor focus is likely to shift to funding, final approvals, and timing around the project's expansion.

Foolish takeaway

Today's update gives investors clearer visibility on the path ahead, but several milestones still need to fall into place. The next focus will be funding arrangements and progress toward a final investment decision.

Investors are likely to look ahead to the company's half-year results next month for further detail.

The post A major green light sends this ASX gold stock higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The shares were last trading at 74 cents, down about 3.89 % before the halt. Investors appear cautious as they wait for clearer news on developments at the company's Simberi Gold Project in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

According to the ASX notice, trading will resume once the announcement is released, or at the latest by Thursday morning.

A key project back in focus

Simberi is St Barbara's most important operating asset. The open-pit gold mine is located on Simberi Island in Papua New Guinea and has been producing gold for more than a decade.

Over the past two years, St Barbara has been working on plans to significantly expand Simberi by moving into sulphide ore mining. This expansion is designed to lift production, extend the mine's life, and improve long-term cash flow.

However, none of this can move ahead unless St Barbara secures a long-term extension to the Simberi mining lease.

Why the mining lease is so important

The current Simberi mining lease is due to expire later this decade. Without an extension, St Barbara would be unable to justify the large investment needed for the next phase of the mine.

In 2025, Papua New Guinea's Mining Advisory Committee recommended extending the Simberi mining lease out to 2038. That recommendation was an important step forward and aligned with the company's long-term mine plans.

Formal paperwork was later submitted to the PNG Minister for Mining. However, final approval has been delayed due to an unresolved tax reassessment issue with the PNG tax office.

St Barbara has previously told investors it expects the revised tax assessment to be reissued, which would allow the lease approval process to move forward.

What investors are waiting to hear

The trading halt suggests St Barbara is close to an important update. This could involve progress on the mining lease, movement on the tax issue, or another development linked to Simberi's future ownership or funding structure.

The Simberi project has already attracted interest from major partners. Previous disclosures showed plans for PNG's state-owned Kumul Minerals to take a stake in the project, alongside a proposed investment by China's Lingbao Gold Group.

Any confirmation around approvals or ownership would be highly relevant for investors.

Foolish bottom line

St Barbara shares have delivered a strong run over the past year, supported by higher gold prices and renewed optimism around Simberi.

Today's halt highlights how closely St Barbara's outlook is tied to regulatory decisions and project approvals. If the Simberi lease extension is finalised, it could remove a major uncertainty hanging over the stock.

The post Why the St Barbara share price is halted today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold miner said in a statement to the ASX that the study "confirms outstanding project economics and optimal environmental and social outcomes''.

It added that the project had a post-tax payback period of less than one year, using a gold price of US$3000 per ounce, and would generate post-tax cash flow over the life of the mine of $2 billion.

The current gold price is sitting well above the figure used for the company's calculations, with the precious metal currently changing hands for US$4835.45 per ounce.

Long life mining project

St Barbara said the project would have a stable production profile of more than 100,000 ounces of gold per year over more than 11 years, which did not include any potential upside from exploration in the region.

The project would cost about $308 million to build, and would have an all-in sustaining cost of production of US$1188 per ounce, "underpinned by fundamentals of low open pit strip ratios, strong recoveries from conventional free milling ores, proven operating experience from Touquoy and costs shared across three mining areas''.

Touquoy refers to the company's existing mine, where open-cut mining is proposed to restart soon.

St Barbara said the 15-Mile development was expected to be funded from cash flow from the New Simberi gold project in Papua New Guinea and Touquoy once it had restarted.

The company said further re the project:

The project includes three operating locations, with all ore processing and tailings management occurring at 15-Mile, while Beaver Dam and Cochrane Hill are to operate as satellite mines. The prefeasibility study design leverages the existing Touquoy processing plant equipment. The proposed Touquoy restart would have no adverse impact on the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project development timeline as the remnant surface ore stockpiles are anticipated to be processed before relocation of the Touquoy processing plant to 15-Mile.

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said the prefeasibility study showed 15-Mile had "outstanding" economics.

The completion of the prefeasibility study is a key milestone as we continue to de-risk the project. St Barbara is well-positioned to take the project to environmental and social impact assessment processes over FY26 and in parallel with the feasibility study.

Shares in St Barbara have tripled over the past 12 months, up from 19.2 cents to 61.5 cents on Wednesday, up 4.2% on the day.

The company was valued at $713.8 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Why is this gold miner's share price heading higher 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:

Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

The Clarity Pharmaceuticals share price is up 5% to $3.34. Investors have been buying this pharmaceuticals company's shares after it released an update on its Co-PSMA (NCT06907641) Investigator-Initiated Trial. Clarity revealed that its abstract has been accepted for oral presentation at the upcoming European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress 2026. It is Europe's biggest urological conference, which will be held 13-16 March 2026 in London. Clarity's executive chair, Dr Alan Taylor, commented: "This recognition not only highlights the impact of this research but also underscores the significant potential of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA to advance PSMA imaging and improve prostate cancer management. The abstract summary will be announced in mid-February, followed by the oral presentation in mid-March 2026."

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 3% to $3.36. This morning, this counter drone technology company announced that it has received a standalone contract for $6.2 million from an in-country reseller for delivery to a military end-customer in an Asia Pacific country. The solutions that have been ordered include selected 3rd party hardware, interoperable with DroneShield's command-and-control software platform, DroneSentry-C2. It is an advanced command-and-control (C2) platform that delivers a unified, real-time counter-drone operating picture. Management expects to complete this delivery and receive payment in 2026.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up 3% to 60.2 cents. As well as getting a boost from a rising gold price, this morning the gold miner revealed that the $32 million deposit has been received from Lingbao Gold in relation to its strategic investment. The company advised that the deposit will be held in escrow and will be utilised towards the $370 million subscription amount to acquire 50% of St Barbara Mining. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of St Barbara, which will own 80% of the Simberi Gold Project.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine share price is up 7% to $5.37. This appears to have been driven by news that French billionaire Olivier Goudet has built a 5.05% position in the beaten down wine giant. Goudet has been buying the Penfold owner's shares since early October.

The post Why Clarity, DroneShield, St Barbara, and Treasury Wine shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

The Chalice Mining share price is down 2.5% to $1.62. Investors have been selling this mineral exploration company's shares this week following the release of the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gonneville Palladium-Nickel-Copper Project. The PFS confirmed a long life, globally competitive critical minerals mine in Western Australia, which it believes will generate $4.7 billion in free cashflow (pre-tax) over an initial 23 year open-pit mine life. In response to the update, UBS retained its neutral rating but slashed its price target down to $1.75.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

The Predictive Discovery share price is down 7% to 65.5 cents. This morning, fellow gold miner Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) revealed that it was ending its pursuit of Predictive Discovery after its proposal was no longer deemed to be superior. It is possible that some investors were counting on a bidding war breaking out between Perseus and fellow suitor Robex Resources.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

The Premier Investments share price is down 4% to $14.43. This has been driven by the retail conglomerate's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its latest payout. In September, the Peter Alexander and Smiggle owner released its FY 2025 results and reported a sizeable a 31.1% jump in profit. This strong form allowed the company's board to declare a fully franked final dividend to 50 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this dividend next month on 23 January.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down almost 11% to 50 cents. Investors have reacted negatively to news that the gold miner will sell down interests in its Simberi gold operations in Papua New Guinea. Chinese company Lingbao Gold Group (HKG: 3330) has agreed to pay $370 million for a half stake in a subsidiary that would own 80% of the Simberi gold project. The remaining 20% of the project is being sold to Kumul Mineral Holdings for $100 million. The company notes that the "transaction values 100% of the Simberi Gold Project at $800 million which represents a 31% premium to the current St Barbara market capitalisation."

The post Why Chalice Mining, Predictive Discovery, Premier Investments, and St Barbara shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company has also announced a positive feasibility study for expansion of the Simberi mine, which would add another 13 years to its mine life.

Two major deals announced

Late on Wednesday, St Barbara said it had struck an agreement with Chinese company Lingbao Gold Group (HKG: 3330), which would pay $370 million for a half stake in a St Barbara subsidiary, which in turn would own 80% of the Simberi gold project.

St Barbara separately announced a deal to sell 20% of Simberi to another company, Kumul Mineral Holdings, for $100 million.

St Barbara said the transactions would mean it was fully funded for its share of the expected capital costs of the Simberi expansion project, "thereby significantly derisking the Simberi Expansion Project and accelerating the timeline to final investment decision and expanded production''.  

Deal a boon for shareholders

The company said in a statement to the ASX that the deal valued the Simberi project at more than St Barbara's current market valuation.

The transaction values 100% of the Simberi Gold Project at $800 million which represents a 31% premium to the current St Barbara market capitalisation. The transaction represents a materially higher premium to the current look through value of Simberi within St Barbara, with St Barbara's market capitalisation also reflecting its 100% ownership of the development projects in Nova Scotia and substantial cash, bullion, gold sales receivables and investments.

St Barbara said Lingbao was a major Chinese gold producer, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a valuation of about US$2.8 billion.

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said the two deals announced on Wednesday would help fast-track the Simberi expansion.

The investments by Lingbao and Kumul in Simberi will help us accelerate the development of the Simberi Expansion Project and the delivery of its value to our shareholders and key stakeholders in PNG." "This is a high-quality brownfields project with low capital intensity, a highly competitive operating cost structure and long-life resource that has potential to grow in the future. With Lingbao we have a committed, experienced and a well-funded partner. In addition, we welcome Kumul to the project as a co-investor.

St Barbara also announced on Wednesday that the feasibility study into the Simberi expansion indicated it would produce 2.1 million ounces of gold over 13 years out to 2039.

The initial project capital was estimated at US$275 million, with pre-expansion growth capital of a further US$50 million to US$70 million across FY26 and FY27.

Mr Strelein said the project was developing into a "highly compelling opportunity to create real value for St Barbara shareholders''.

The expansion project would double the rate of mining from the current rate of 10 million tonnes of ore per year.

The post St Barbara announces $470 million worth of deals to bolster its expansion plans 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:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The Breville share price is down 4.5% to $28.26. This is despite there being no news out of the appliance manufacturer. However, it is worth noting that consumer discretionary sector is out of form today. So much so, the S&P/ASX 200 Cons Disc index is down 1.1% at the time of writing.

European Lithium Ltd (ASX: EUR)

The European Lithium share price is down 33% to 16.7 cents. This morning, this lithium explorer advised that Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML) has sold 3 million CRML shares to a single US institutional investor at US$7 per share. This represents a 12% discount to its last close price. This has raised US$21 million (A$31.75 million) in net proceeds for European Lithium. The company's executive chair, Tony Sage, said: "This transaction again highlights the value of the Company's holding in CRML. The remaining 60 million shares held in CRML, using the $US11.50 closing price on the Nasdaq yesterday, values the Company's holding at approximately $US689M ($A1,061m), which is well above the current market capitalisation of EUR."

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

The Reece share price is down over 4% to $11.12. This has been driven by the plumbing parts company's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its final dividend of FY 2025. In August, the company released its full year results and declared a fully franked final dividend of 11.9 cents per share. This will be paid to eligible shareholders later this month on 22 October.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down 15% to 50.2 cents. This morning, this gold miner revealed that it has received firm commitments for an institutional placement to raise a total of $58 million before costs. These funds are being raised at a 22% discount of 46 cents per new share. Management notes that the placement was overbid, with significant demand from leading Australian and international institutional investors. It also received strong support from existing institutional shareholders. St Barbara's managing director and CEO, Andrew Strelein, said: "The placement allows us to progress the change out of the truck fleet at Simberi to improve efficiency and reliability, as well as finalising the Feasibility Study and advancing Pre-Expansion Growth Capital items. The new funds will also enable us to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study on the 15-Mile Processing Hub at Nova Scotia, which is due in the March quarter of 2026, and progress plans for the potential re-opening of Touquoy for stockpile processing."

The post Why Breville, European Lithium, Reece, and St Barbara shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company said in a statement to the ASX that it had received firm commitments for an institutional placement to raise $58 million at an issue price of 46 cents per share.

The stock, which closed Monday's trading at a 12-month high of 59 cents, valuing the company at $639.4 million, fell 10.2% on the news to be changing hands at 53 cents by mid-morning.

St Barbara said the institutional placement was met with strong demand, and "was overbidded with significant demand from new and existing high-quality Australian and international institutional investors''.  

Money to fund expansion studies

The money raised will be used in part to expand and convert the mining fleet at St Barbara's Simberi gold mine in Papua New Guinea, and finalise the Simberi expansion prefeasibility study.

It would also be used to complete the prefeasibility study on the 15 Mile Processing Hub at the company's Atlantic operations in Nova Scotia, Canada.

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said the company was "extremely pleased" with the strong support for the placement "and delighted to welcome numerous new high-quality domestic and international institutional investors to St Barbara's register''.

The placement allows us to progress the change out of the truck fleet at Simberi to improve efficiency and reliability, as well as finalising the feasibility study and advancing pre-expansion growth capital items. The new funds will also enable us to complete the prefeasibility study on the 15-Mile Processing Hub at Nova Scotia, which is due in the March quarter of 2026, and progress plans for the potential re-opening of Touquoy for stockpile processing.

While St Barbara shares are sharply lower today, they are well up on their low for the past 12 months of just 19 cents.

Simberi sale being canvassed

St Barbara said in late September it had engaged Macquarie Capital to evaluate strategic options for Simberi, "including a potential sale of part or all of the operation''.

This followed the company receiving unsolicited expressions of interest in the project and requests to undertake due diligence.

St Barbara said in a statement at the time:

Several parties are undertaking advanced due diligence enquiries and have completed site visits and management presentations. There is no certainty that the Simberi process or any current discussions will result in any firm proposals, or that any proposals will result in a binding transaction.

The Simberi expansion project would increase annual gold production at the mine to more than 200,000 ounces per year and extend the mine life by 13 years to 2038.

The post Why have shares in this All Ords gold stock plunged more than 10%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX gold stock is up 1% to 54 cents.

Why is this ASX gold stock rising?

Investors have been buying the gold miner's shares today following the release of two announcements.

The first release reveals what the gold miner is targeting for FY 2026. According to the update, gold production from Simberi is expected in the range of 54,000 to 70,000 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$4,000 to A$4,400 per ounce.

This will be a 21% increase on its production in FY 2025.

However, management has warned that its production is likely to be weighted to the second half of the financial year. This is due to there being more planned shutdowns during the first half.

In addition, the arrival of Volvo A60H units, commencing from the end of the first quarter will support increased production.

Strategic review

In a separate announcement, the ASX gold stock provided an update on its plans for the Atlantic Gold Operations.

St Barbara has been looking at options to separate these operations from the rest of the business. However, it notes that to date, it has not received a proposal that provides shareholders with a sufficient participation in the future potential value realisation from the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project.

In addition, the permitting processes (including of environmental approvals) and government support for resource development in Nova Scotia are improving rapidly. So much so, the ASX gold stock now has the potential opportunity to apply to re-open the Touquoy mine to process low and medium grade stockpiles that remained at closure.

Interestingly, while trying to offload Atlantic Gold, the company received interest for its core Simberi operations. It notes that several parties are currently undertaking advanced due diligence enquiries and have completed site visits and management presentations.

However, it notes that there is no certainty that any current discussions will result in any firm proposals, or that any proposals will result in a binding transaction. It also highlights that any transaction will be conditional on all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals being obtained.

For now, the ASX gold stock remains fully committed to the current Simberi Expansion Project, targeting an updated Feasibility Study in the second quarter of FY 2026. This project would significantly increase annual gold production to over 200,000 ounces with all-in sustaining costs of US$1,200 to US$1,300 per ounce. It would also extend the mine life by 13 years to 2038, based only on proven and probable ore reserves.

The post Is this ASX gold stock a takeover target? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In fact, in afternoon trade, its shares are up a massive 22% to 47.5 cents.

Which ASX gold stock?

The gold stock that is rocketing today is St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM).

Investors have been buying its shares following the release of an update on its operations in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

As a reminder, late last year the PNG Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) issued tax reassessments for St Barbara.

In response, the ASX gold stock's subsidiary, Simberi Gold Company Limited (SGCL), lodged a formal objection to the reassessments, well within the required five-week timeframe.

Since that time the company and SGCL have pressed for the earliest possible completion of the review of its objections, as the existence of the unresolved matter impacted upon financing preparations for final investment decision and therefore the development timetable for the Simberi Expansion Project.

As you might have guessed from the way its shares are rising today, there has been positive news relating to Simberi.

What's the latest?

According to the release, the Minister of Mining, the Honourable Mr Rainbo Paita, has received the formal extension documentation, together with the recommendation and briefing materials, from the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).

This follows the decision by the Mining Advisory Committee (MAC) to recommend to the Minister the grant of an extension of the Simberi Mining Lease 136 (Simberi ML) until 2038.

Furthermore, the PNG IRC Deputy Commissioner of Taxation has advised that the IRC will revoke the previous tax assessments issued in December 2024 and reissue a revised tax reassessment as early as 19 September 2025.

Good standing

The ASX gold stock notes that it is aligned with the Minister's comments regarding the importance of tenement holders maintaining good standing and operating in accordance with PNG laws.

It highlights that SGCL has operated the Simberi Mine since 2012, with over 90% of the workforce made up of locals and PNG nationals, contributing substantial royalties and broader direct and indirect benefits into PNG under strict governance standards.

It is also pleased to reconfirm it is in full compliance with all tax obligations and committed to working to resolve the matter with the IRC and welcomes the revised reassessments being issued soon.

The gold miner concludes:

MD and CEO Andrew Strelein has been in contact with the Mining Minister today, to clarify and confirm that the objections regarding the tax matter are presently with the IRC to conclude their review. The Minister advised that, once these reassessments are clarified and the tax matters are regularised, then the mining lease extension could proceed.

The post Which ASX gold stock is rocketing 22% on massive news? 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:

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

The AMP share price is up 6% to $1.79. This follows news that AMP has reached agreements to settle legal proceedings with some insurers for amounts incurred in historical remediation programs which concluded in 2022. AMP notes that it sought recovery under its insurance policy of compensation and costs arising out of these historical remediation programs. To date proceeds totalling approximately $44 million have been received. But it may not end there. AMP remains in discussions with a number of other insurers in relation to these proceedings.

GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP)

The GenusPlus Group share price is up 5% to $5.55. This morning, this specialist power and communications infrastructure and services provider won a major contract. According to the release, Alinta Energy has selected GenusPlus to complete the delivery of its 100MW/200MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Western Australia. The release notes the contract has a value of approximately $50 million.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up 2% to 39.75 cents. This follows the release of an announcement from the gold miner relating to permitting in Nova Scotia. St Barbara's managing director and CEO, Andrew Strelein, said: "We are very encouraged by the significant improvement in the permitting environment in Nova Scotia and, in particular, we have been encouraged by the progress made with the creation of the Large Industrial File Team to pool expertise within the regulator from across its regional offices."

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is up 3% to $98.01. There are a couple of potential drivers of this. The first is a good showing for tech stocks on Monday after the Nasdaq finished higher on Friday. The other driver could be news that WiseTech Global's founder has been selling shares. While insider selling is usually a bad sign, Richard White's share sales in the past have been viewed differently. That's because it is interpreted as a sign that the company is performing at least in line with its guidance at present.

The post Why AMP, GenusPlus, St Barbara, and WiseTech shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 28.0 cents. In morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for 28.5 cents apiece, up 1.7%.

Here's what's happening.

ASX All Ords gold stock strikes some promising zones

Investors are running their slide rules over the ASX All Ords gold stock following the release of a promising exploration update from its Simberi Operations, located in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

St Barbara has completed its exploration and sterilisation drill program at Simberi, comprising 61 holes for 10,463 metres.

Today, the company reported on assay results from the latest 11 drill holes. Assay results remain pending for a further 20 diamond drill holes from the program.

St Barbara said that the Samat deposit, within Simberi, has previously seen only sparse historical diamond drilling for sulphides.

The high-grade gold mineralisation the ASX All Ords gold stock intersected is immediately below the existing Samat open pit sulphide ore reserve, which the miner said is just beyond the reach of historical oxide RC (reverse circulation) grade control.

Two resource definition drill holes completed at the Samat deposit intersected significant high-grade gold mineralisation, including:

• 17 m at 4.2 g/t Au [grams of gold per tonne] from 53 m, including 6 m at 6.4 g/t Au from 56 m
• 43 m at 2.1 g/t Au from 17 m and 27 m at 1.7 g/t Au from 91 m

Atop the Samat deposit, St Barbara reported that it also intersected further high-grade gold mineralisation in its resource definition and exploration diamond drilling at the Sorowar – Pigiput Trend.

What did management say?

Commenting on the exploration results that look to be giving the ASX All Ords gold stock a boost today, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said: "The identification of additional sulphide mineralisation extending or located immediately below the current sulphide open pit Ore Reserve at Samat and Sorowar – Pigiput Trend is very positive news."

Strelein added:

We are looking forward to the results of the remaining ten Samat drill holes to better understand the potential to define additional high-grade sulphide resources where historic diamond drilling is relatively sparse. Significantly, Samat was the first and highest grade of the oxide pits mined.

He said that St Barbara expects to receive the assay results for most of the remaining 20 resource definition, exploration, and sterilisation holes drilled to date at Samat, Pigicow-Botlu, Pigibo North, Pigibo Botlu, and Pigiput Northeast Trend in the September quarter.

Despite some recent weather-related setbacks, shares in the ASX All Ords gold stock are up 30% since this time last year.

The post Guess which ASX All Ords gold stock is marching higher on some 'very positive news' appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.