The ASX Daily Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Top StoriesNXT — NEXTDC raises ~A$1.0 billion via institutional entitlement offer at $12.70 per share with 98% take-up rateNEXTDC successfully completed the institutional component of its 1-for-5.4 pro-rata accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer, raising approximately A$1.0 billion at A$12.70 per share with near-total shareholder support. The 98% take-up rate is a striking endorsement of institutional conviction in NEXTDC’s growth story — this is one of the largest raises on the ASX this year. A further ~A$0.5 billion retail offer opens 27 April and closes 11 May, with a Top Up Facility allowing eligible retail shareholders to apply for up to 100% additional shares. Proceeds back NEXTDC’s record 544MW pro forma Forward Order Book and its broader A$2.2 billion capital plan, alongside a separate A$1.0 billion Hybrid Securities Offer.BCM — Brazilian Critical Minerals’ Ema project joins world’s largest rare earth deposits with 1.07 billion tonne resourceBCM has updated its Mineral Resource Estimate for the Ema ionic clay rare earth project in Brazil, now totalling 1.07 billion tonnes at 732 ppm TREO — catapulting it into the ranks of the world’s largest ionic clay REE deposits. The high-confidence Indicated Resource surged 58% to 392Mt at 773 ppm TREO, a major de-risking milestone as the Bankable Feasibility Study is already approximately 80% complete. Ema is positioned as the only known ISR-ready rare earth project in the Western world, meaning low-cost in-situ recovery — a critical advantage as governments scramble to build rare earth supply chains outside China.ALD — Ampol delivers strong Q1 2026 with LRM surging to US$25.45/bbl amid Middle East conflict supply disruptionAmpol reported a strong first quarter for 2026, with the Lytton Refiner Margin jumping to US$25.45 per barrel — up from just US$6.07 in Q1 2025 — driven by elevated global refining margins following supply disruptions linked to Middle East conflict and its impact on Strait of Hormuz shipping. Australian fuel sales rose 4.7% and refinery production climbed 10% year-on-year, with Ampol deferring planned maintenance to prioritise domestic fuel security. The result is a dramatic earnings tailwind for Ampol shareholders — but also a reminder of how geopolitical shocks flow directly into the fuel prices every Australian pays at the pump.Mid-Tier MoversENR — Encounter Resources grew its Aileron niobium resource by 54% to 120Mt at 0.77% Nb2O5 in Western Australia, including a high-grade core of 26Mt at 1.7% Nb2O5, cementing it as a world-class undeveloped niobium deposit. Pre-development studies are now accelerating with infill drilling commencing May 2026 — niobium’s role in high-strength steel and battery technology makes this one worth watching.MEI — Meteoric Resources raised $40 million via a placement at $0.17 per share — zero discount to the last close — with the raise significantly oversubscribed. Funds advance the Definitive Feasibility Study and environmental licensing at its Caldeira ionic clay rare earth project in Brazil, leaving Meteoric with a pro-forma cash balance of roughly $58 million heading into a Final Investment Decision.SX2 — Southern Cross Gold hit 1.6 metres at 55.3 g/t gold and 1.9% antimony at the Golden Dyke prospect within its Sunday Creek project in Victoria, with gold equivalent grades reaching nearly 60 g/t. The deposit is expanding in multiple directions beyond the existing exploration target and the company has now deployed an eleventh drill rig — dual gold and critical minerals antimony exposure is a compelling combination right now.WAU — WA Gold’s scoping study for the Abercromby Gold Project delivered pre-tax net cashflow of up to A$297 million and an extraordinary 526% IRR from just A$8 million in upfront capital — a 33-times return on investment. The study used a conservative A$6,000 per ounce gold price versus current spot of around A$6,700, meaning real-world economics are even better than the headline numbers suggest.HAS — Hastings Technology Metals unveiled the flowsheet for its Kabin Buri hydromet plant in Thailand, targeting first Mixed Rare Earth Chloride production in Q4 2026 with projected Year 1 revenue of US$53.4 million and pretax profit of US$21.6 million. The plant scales to 12,000 tonnes per annum from Year 2, making this one of the more imminent rare earth revenue stories on the ASX.G6M — Group 6 Metals signed a binding $110–120 million three-year underground mining contract with HMR Drilling Services for its Dolphin Tungsten Mine on King Island, Tasmania. Commencement is expected within 60 days, with fixed pricing through to June 2027 — a key de-risking milestone moving Dolphin firmly toward sustained production.Rapid Fire* RRL — Regis Resources grew Group Ore Reserves to 2.0Moz — the sixth consecutive year of underground reserve growth exceeding depletion — with Garden Well Underground surging 120% to 474,000 ounces after depletion.* WCE — West Coast Silver announced an inaugural 2.8 million ounce silver resource at Elizabeth Hill in WA at a standout grade of 617 g/t, confirming it as one of Australia’s highest-grade silver projects, with mineralisation open along strike and at depth.* KNI — Kuniko’s maiden drilling at Commonwealth-Silica Hill in NSW hit 3.8 metres at 6.5 g/t gold, 385 g/t silver and 11.5% zinc in massive sulphide mineralisation. Assays from four remaining Phase I holes are pending imminently.* SYR — Syrah Resources completed its A$104 million equity raising with AustralianSuper set to hold a ~49.6% stake, funding the Vidalia AAM facility ramp-up and Balama graphite operations.* EBO — EBOS Group cut its FY26 EBITDA guidance to $610–620 million — down from as high as $635 million — blaming surging fuel and energy costs hitting its Symbion healthcare distribution network, with no clarity from Government on cost recovery timing.* BPP — Babylon Pump and Power is suspended from trading in advanced negotiations for a transformative acquisition of a water pumping and storage business, contingent on a substantial capital raise. Watch for an announcement by 27 April.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