Metals Australia (ASX:MLS) has outlined a new VTM resource at its Manindi West Project in Western Australia, located just 1km from its existing Zinc-Copper-Silver project. With zinc markets strengthening, how could the two projects work together to create a bigger opportunity? CEO Paul Ferguson joins The Stock Network’s Lel Smits to discuss the new VTM resource, the potential for synergies across the Manindi portfolio, strengthening zinc market conditions and the Company’s growth strategy.

🪓 Expanding the VTM opportunity
⚒️ Building on the nearby zinc opportunity
🇦🇺 Unlocking value across Manindi

Rick Rule explains what mining prospect generators are and how prospect generators view exploration as a knowledge business, not an asset business:

🔬 Generating geological concepts through technical and commercial expertise
🤝 Farming out exploration to other mining companies to fund the heavy lifting
🏗️ Building a portfolio of projects while retaining exposure to multiple opportunities

Rick highlights how a real asset in early-stage companies is human intelligence, with prospect generators diluting at the project level rather than diluting that expertise.

Are you worried about money lately? So is almost everyone else. Westpac’s (ASX:WBC) latest consumer sentiment survey shows confidence has dropped to one of its lowest points since the early 1970s. Pessimists now outnumber optimists in 102 of the 106 groups it tracks. The survey ran across the week of the RBA’s latest hike. Before the decision, people were slightly more upbeat than last month. After it, they were as gloomy as during the recession of the early 1990s. Westpac says the pressure is likely to continue. Petrol prices remain elevated, and more than 80% of people now expect mortgage rates to keep rising. Here`s TSN`s Take: A rate rise may take months to reach the economy, but it`s an instant hit to confidence.

#australia #costofliving #stocks #finance #money

Island Pharmaceuticals (ASX: ILA) commences Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing of Galidesivir, marking an important milestone in its development program for Ebola and Marburg. The first 5kg batch is targeted for completion by the end of October and is intended to support the company’s approved Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Experimental Interventions (MEURI) program in Uganda.

.🏭 Manufacturing underway: GMP production of Galidesivir’s active pharmaceutical ingredient began on 1 October at PI Health Sciences, with the first 5kg batch targeted for completion by the end of October.
🇺🇬 Ebola program: The first batch is earmarked for Island Pharmaceuticals’ approved emergency-use program during the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Uganda, under the WHO’s MEURI framework.
🧪 Second batch planned: A second 5kg batch is targeted for completion by late November to support Island’s broader Ebola strategy and planned Marburg study.
📊 Data collection: Treatment under the MEURI program is expected to provide clinical, safety and virological data from patients treated with Galidesivir.

“Together, these activities strengthen Galidesivir’s development readiness as we work to position it as a potential broad-spectrum medical countermeasure for high consequence viral threats.” – Dr David Foster, Island Pharmaceuticals CEO and Managing Director

Is AI killing consultants? Many people thought the answer was yes because consulting work involves a lot of research, analysis and slide decks. AI can do all of that, fast and cheap. But maybe the death of consulting was called too soon. Accenture (NYSE: ACN), one of the world`s biggest consulting firms, just beat its own forecasts with quarterly revenue of $18.7 billion. The company`s share price surged on the results. On an earnings call, Accenture`s CEO said AI is actually a tailwind for the company. More than 400 clients hired it for AI work this year, and the company`s headcount is up. Here`s TSN`s Take: Every new technology needs someone to install it. Sometimes that`s the company everyone said it would kill.

#AI #tech #stocks #fintok #investing

Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) has agreed to acquire Meteoric Resources (ASX:MEI), owner of the Brazil-based Caldeira Rare Earth Project, in an all-scrip deal valued at approximately A$968 million. The deal gives the target’s shareholders exposure to Lynas and its rare-earth processing capability. Meteoric Resources shares rose 52.9% on the takeover offer, adding around $171 million to the company’s market value.

💰 A$968m deal: Lynas has agreed to acquire 100% of Meteoric Resources through an all-scrip transaction.
🌏 Rare-earth project: The deal gives Lynas access to Meteoric’s Caldeira Rare Earth Project in Brazil.
📈 Share price jumps: Meteoric shares rose 52.9% following news of the takeover offer, adding approximately $171 million to its market value.

“This project has been progressed with an intensive focus on the fundamentals: drilling, geological understanding, metallurgical recoveries and test work, including from our own pilot plant.” Dr Andrew Tunks, Meteoric Resources Executive Chair

Imugene (ASX:IMU) has reported additional results from its azer-cel Phase 1b trial, with one complete response and one partial response recorded in the trial’s BTK inhibitor combination cohort. The cohort now has a 71% overall response rate across seven patients, while the broader Phase 1b study has recorded a 75% overall response rate across 55 patients.

🧬 New responses: One patient with mantle cell lymphoma achieved a complete response, while a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia achieved a partial response.
📊 71% response rate: The Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor (BTKi) combination cohort has recorded an overall response rate of 71% across seven patients, all of whom had previously progressed on BTK inhibitor treatment.
🔬 Broader trial results: Across all three Phase 1b cohorts, azer-cel has recorded a 75% overall response rate across 55 patients, including patients who had and had not previously received CAR T treatment.

“The key here is that we are treating patients who have all progressed on BTK inhibitors and who have high unmet need hematologic cancer with few therapeutic options.” – Paul Hopper, Imugene Executive Chairman

Who owns the toll roads you drive on? Until now, Canada`s national pension fund has owned part of Sydney`s road network. It`s selling out, and Transurban (ASX:TCL) is paying $4.5 billion for its share. The deal will increase Transurban’s stakes in Westlink M7, NorthConnex and WestConnex. It still needs regulatory approval, and Transurban says there’ll be no change to tolls. Transurban doesn’t actually own these roads. It holds concessions that run out. NorthConnex in 2048, the M7 in 2051, WestConnex in 2060. Here`s TSN`s Take: A toll road isn`t an asset you own forever. It`s a clock, and you`re buying the years left on it.

#stocks #roads #traffic #money #sydney