The shares of Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) saw an increase as high as 20.6% to A$0.370, reaching their highest levels since Sept 5.

The stock is on track for its best day since Oct 14, 2021, if the gains continue.

The diversified mining company reported a Maiden FY23 profit of A$10.8 million ($6.94 million).

The company also announced a first FY revenue of A$50.6 million in FY2023.

Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) sees a production forecast of 90,000 metric tons to 100,000 tons of spodumene concentrate sales for FY24.

The company’s stock was the biggest percentage gainer in the S&P/ASX 200 index.

Despite this, the stock is down 66.8% this year, as of the last close, compared to a 0.2% decline in the S&P/ASX 200 index.

Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) is a diversified mining company focused on lithium production.

Angus Barker is slated to succeed Dudley Kingsnorth as the Chairman of Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3), the company has announced.

Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3), based in Australia, focuses on the exploration and development of rare earth resources.

Gowing Bros (ASX:GOW) announced that its full year total revenue has fallen by 4.04% amounting to A$71.2 million.

The company also decided to declare a final fully franked dividend of 3 Australian cents per share.

The financial report for the year reflects a loss after tax of A$5.3 million as compared to the previous year’s profit of A$10.9 million.

Gowing Bros provides financial services and products, specifically offering banking and investment options.

Analysts at brokerages Morningstar and Citi anticipate that fashion retailer Premier Investments (ASX:PMV) will face increasing labour costs.

Citi projects labour cost growth to be 4.5% in fiscal 2024 and maintains a “neutral” stock rating, with a valuation for PMV at A$23.24 per share.

On the other hand, Morningstar retains a fair value estimate of A$19.50 per share and a “medium” uncertainty rating for the stock.

Despite Citi believing the stock to be reasonably priced, Morningstar views the shares as overvalued at the current market level.

Both brokerages foresee that Premier Investments (ASX:PMV) will endure challenges due to customers scaling back on fashion spending and a deceleration in garment expenditure, as well as increased competition from other stores.

Among 13 analysts, six rate the stock as a “buy” or higher, four as a “hold”, and three as a “sell” or lower, according to data from LSEG.

The company’s stock has risen by 0.7% YTD, as of the most recent close.

Premier Investments (ASX:PMV) is a fashion retailer.

Continuing their analysis of the mining industry, Citi Research updated their rating for Australian diversified miner South32 (ASX:S32) from ‘neutral’ to ‘buy’.

Citi, anticipating a target price of A$3.80, expects a rebound in South32’s share price after experiencing recent lows, as current key spot commodity prices have substantially exceeded the market’s expectations for FY24.

There was a significant reduction in the company’s EPS estimate after the release of their FY24 cost forecast, according to the brokerage.

However, Citi argues that with a rise in coking coal and alumina prices, the subsequent adjustment for consensus EPS estimate will likely be upward.

Citi further points out that South32 has the highest operating leverage among diversified miners.

The stock is rated as ‘buy’ or higher by 10 out of 15 analysts, while 5 maintain a ‘hold’; the median PT as per LSEG data is A$4.08.

At the last close, the stock was down by 18.3% YTD.

South32 is a diversified mining company that operates globally with a significant presence in Australia.

Brokerage firm Jefferies predicts an earnings headwind for Nufarm, associating the decline to challenging market conditions faced by the seed technology company.

Jefferies has adjusted its price target for the company to A$5.30, down from A$6.20, and maintains a ‘hold’ rating.

The brokerage firm acknowledges that the volatile conditions of the agricultural input markets will persist to affect Nufarm’s profitability.

It also lowered its estimates for Nufarm’s FY24 and FY25 EBITDA by 2.9% and 1.4%, correspondingly.

Of the 11 analysts covering the stock, six rate it as ‘buy’ or higher and five hold a ‘hold’ view; their median price target is A$6.15.

Reportedly, the company’s stock is down by 23% YTD through the last close.

Nufarm (ASX:NUF) is an agricultural firm globally known for its innovation in crop protection and seed technologies.

Macquarie’s proposal for a takeover has been rejected by Renewi (ASX:RWI).

The firm’s board dismissed the proposal, made by funds managed or advised by Macquarie, with no room for reconsideration.

The company has expressed confidence in its standalone operational plan, stating it would ‘realize value for all of its stakeholders.’ To reach a conversion ratio of 40% of EBITDA by FY26, Renewi is targeting a considerable improvement in free cash generation.

The company has currently undertaken a comprehensive review of its UK Municipal business, actively exploring multiple options in the process to ideally exit this segment of its business.

The outcome of this review is expected to materialize in the first half of 2024.

Renewi is a waste-to-product recycling company, converting different types of waste into useful materials and products.

Copper miners, including global mining giants Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and BHP Group (ASX:BHP), are witnessing an upward trend, mirroring the rise of copper prices on the London Metal Exchange.

The benchmark three-month copper is noted to be up by 0.4% at $8,147.50 per tonne.

The increase happens as traders square up their positions anticipating a prolonged public holiday in China.

U.S.

listed shares of Rio Tinto and BHP Group saw a 1.9% hike each.

In addition, Southern Copper, and Freeport-McMoRan saw a positive shift of 2.1% and 1.6% respectively.

Meanwhile, Canadian miners including First Quantum Minerals, Hudbay Minerals and Teck Resources experienced an increase between 1.3% and 2.3%.

Rio Tinto is a global mining firm involved in metal and mineral exploitation.

The experimental drug developed by Australia-based Bionomics (ASX:BNOX) to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has shown promising results in a mid-stage study.

The company’s U.S.-listed shares quadrupled to $4.78, reaching a six-month high.

The introduction of the new treatment, BNC210, has helped minimize the severity of PTSD symptoms.

BNC210 has not only displayed improvements in reducing depressive symptoms but also has improved sleep.

The reception to BNC210 was positive overall; the drug was well tolerated by subjects during the study.

Bionomics (ASX:BNOX) confirmed its intention to conduct further studies on BNC210 for the treatment of PTSD.

However, it should be noted that before this upward trend, Bionomics' U.S.-listed shares had fallen by approximately 79% YTD.

Bionomics (ASX:BNOX) is an Australian bio-pharmaceutical company that specializes in developing innovative therapies for cancer and diseases of the central nervous system.

U.S.

stock index futures saw a downturn on Thursday, as escalating oil prices indicated a sustained restrictive monetary policy.

The market keenly awaited economic data and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments expected later the day.

Dow e-minis were down by 0.02% at 33,783, S&P 500 e-minis were down by 0.13% at 4,308 and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down by 0.31% at 14,693.75.

Among the top three NYSE percentage premarket gainers were Leju Holdings, GameStop, and Elctriq Power Holding, while the top three premarket losers were Carmax Inc, Vicarious Surgical, and Graf Acquisition.

The top gainers on Nasdaq were Bionomics (ASX:BNO), Freedom Acquisition I Corp, and Inpixon, with Ascent Solar Technologies and Pasithea Therapeutics at the losing end.

Peloton Interactive Inc saw a premarket upswing of 12.5%, spurred by a new 5-year partnership with Lululemon.

Bionomics (ASX:BNO) also rallied, up by 225.9% premarket, as their PTSD drug found success in a mid-stage study.

GameStop Corp recorded a gain of 9.0% in premarket trading following the appointment of billionaire Ryan Cohen as CEO.

Bionomics is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of serious central nervous system disorders.