The ASX Daily Friday, 15 May 2026

Top StoriesPEB — Pacific Edge wins proposed Medicare coverage for Cxbladder Triage and Triage Plus — the only urine biomarker tests includedPacific Edge has received the news its shareholders have been waiting for. Medicare contractor Novitas has published a draft Local Coverage Determination proposing to cover urine-based biomarker testing for microhematuria evaluation for the first time — and Cxbladder Triage and Triage Plus are the only tests explicitly named as reimbursable. That covers 66 million Medicare lives in the US and creates a competitive moat rivals cannot easily breach. The higher-priced Triage Plus at US$1,328 per test represents a 75% price improvement over legacy products, fundamentally shifting the company’s path to profitability. A minimum 45-day public comment period begins now, with a final LCD expected within 12 months — but the direction of travel here is unambiguous.EOS — EOS completes US$36M upfront payment for MARSS acquisition, boosting combined order book to A$726MElectro Optic Systems has completed its acquisition of counter-drone technology firm MARSS, drawing A$70 million from its WHSP term loan facility to make the US$36 million upfront payment. MARSS has landed €102 million in new orders from a Middle Eastern customer in May alone — including a £85 million country-wide drone detection contract expected to be around 70% delivered in 2026-2027 — pushing the combined EOS group order book to A$726 million. The earnout cap has been raised to €140 million, contingent on MARSS hitting €700 million in new orders — suggesting both parties expect significant momentum in the global defence drone market.ALK — Alkane Resources delivers record Q3 FY2026 net profit of $93 million on surging gold and antimony pricesAlkane Resources has posted its best quarter ever — $274 million in revenue, $161 million EBITDA, and a record net profit of $93 million or 6.81 cents per share for the March quarter. Record gold production of 44,669 ounces and 377 tonnes of antimony drove the result, with the Mandalay Resources merger in August 2025 adding the Costerfield and Björkdal mines to the portfolio. The company is sitting on $374 million in cash, bullion and listed investments and remains on track for full-year guidance — a powerful demonstration of what surging gold and antimony prices can do to a well-run multi-mine operator.Mid-Tier MoversAAR — Astral Resources’ first diamond drill hole at its Theia deposit in WA returned an exceptional 358 metres at 1.03 g/t gold, extending mineralisation 210 vertical metres below the current 1.4 million ounce resource. Key high-grade zones include 127 metres at 1.20 g/t and 81 metres at 1.35 g/t, largely outside the existing resource envelope — flagging strong growth potential ahead as a nine-hole diamond program continues.STN — Saturn Metals executed a Native Title Project Agreement with the Nyalpa Pirniku traditional owners, clearing a critical permitting hurdle for its Apollo Hill Gold Project in Western Australia. The deal directly supports grant of the Apollo Hill Mining Lease and includes milestone payments, gold royalties, cultural heritage protections and employment opportunities — paving the path to production.VCX — Vicinity Centres exchanged contracts to acquire Eastern Creek Quarter in Western Sydney from Frasers Property for $400 million — a hybrid outlet, shopping centre and large format retail asset of approximately 41,000 square metres. Settlement is expected 30 June 2026, funded through existing debt facilities with gearing increasing by approximately 200 basis points.ARN — Aldoro Resources drilled the longest single mineralised intercept ever recorded at Kameelburg in Namibia — 503.98 metres of continuous REE, strontium and niobium mineralisation from surface, averaging 1.30% TREO. The deepest internal layer delivered the best combined grades in the hole at 2.39% TREO and 6.3% strontium carbonate, and it remains open at depth. An updated resource estimate is due in June.GTI — Gratifii is acquiring loyalty platform Simplicity Australasia for $3.4 million — $4.6 million in FY25 revenue and blue-chip clients including a QSR franchise, Dulux and Schneider Electric — while simultaneously investing $5 million in convertible notes into marketplace platform Marketplacer and raising $10 million via placement to fund it all. All four directors are participating in the raise.XRG — xReality Group’s subsidiary Operator XR completed a 20-month, AU$5.6 million US Department of Defense subcontract on time and on budget, with the prototype formally accepted. The commercialised MR-1 mixed reality training system has already secured its first sale to a separate US DoD customer — proof the technology has legs well beyond the original contract.Rapid Fire* TRE — Toubani Resources locked in a binding US$73.3 million debt commitment from Coris Bank to fund construction of its Kobada Gold Mine in Mali, alongside a US$10.2 million mezzanine facility and gold stream arrangement — the funding package is taking shape against a $124 million cash backdrop.* CVW — ClearView Wealth received ACCC clearance for its acquisition by Zurich Financial Services Australia, sailing through Phase 1 of the new mandatory merger regime with APRA, shareholder and court approvals still to follow.* ASM — The Federal Court approved scheme meetings for Energy Fuels’ acquisition of Australian Strategic Materials, with shareholders voting on 22 June and implementation targeted for 7 July 2026.* CNQ — Clean TeQ Water won a Design and Construct contract to build a proprietary ATA tailings dewatering plant at the Rasp Mine in Broken Hill, with a long-term polymer supply agreement also in negotiation.* VMM — Viridis Mining completed infill drilling at its Colossus Rare Earth Project in Brazil with assays beating the block model — standout hit of 16 metres at 7,434 ppm TREO — as it targets a Final Investment Decision in Q3 2026.* EXL — Elixinol’s The Healthy Chef brand is rolling out into approximately 410 Priceline stores nationally from July 2026, with a Stage Two expansion possible in early 2027 subject to performance.* CDT — Castle Minerals called a trading halt ahead of a proposed acquisition announcement. The halt runs until Tuesday 19 May.* NME — Nex Metals shareholders approved the sale of its Arika Joint Venture interest at today’s EGM with 99.17% of votes in favour — the trading halt is expected to lift shortly.* NVU — Nanoveu is acquiring Singapore drone firm Spinoff Robotics to build a full-stack drone autonomy platform from AI chip to airframe, targeting defence and surveillance markets with validated Tier-1 Singapore customers already on board.ASX Daily Digest · Not financial advice · Price-sensitive announcements only This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelisteddigest.substack.com