Shares of Damstra Holdings (ASX:DTC), saw an increase of 15% to A$0.115.

This strong move could result in the company experiencing its best day since August 21 if the gains hold.

The software company recently announced that they have entered into a three-year agreement with New Hope Corporation, providing two one-year options for the latter.

As per the agreement, New Hope will utilize Damstra Holding’s new Enterprise Protection Platform.

It has been shared that this agreement comes with an estimated contract value of A$1.2 million.

Despite experiencing a slump of around 23% year-to-date, such developments could bring about an upturn for Damstra Holdings.

Damstra Holdings is a leading global provider of workplace management software solutions.

The Australian technology sub-index is witnessing a significant slump, dipping as much as 2.5%, a record that is lowest since June 8.

The sub-index is on a trajectory for the worst weekly plunge since September of the previous year.

Following the trend, major tech shares in Wall Street are also tumbling amid growing concerns that the U.S.

Federal Reserve’s monetary policy could remain stiff for an extended period leading to a sharp sell-off.

Majors like Xero (ASX:XRO) and ASX-listed Block (ASX:SQ2) shares have dropped 1.6% and 3.4%, respectively.

Wisetech Global (ASX:WTC) has also experienced a dip of 1.4%.

Despite the bleak outlook, the stock has recorded a 25.1% rise this year as of the last closure.

Xero (ASX:XRO) is an Australian strategy company that capitalizes on innovative technology to provide business solutions.

In recent news, Ausenco (ASX:AUS), a multinational consultancy company, has announced a definitive agreement for acquisition by the Eldridge, Brightstar, Claure Group.

As confirmed by the company, Zimi Meka, co-founder of Ausenco (ASX:AUS), will continue his role as the firm’s CEO, board member and investor.

Additionally, Mike Burke is expected to join Ausenco’s (ASX:AUS) board of directors as Chairman.

Ausenco is a renowned multinational consultancy offering ingenious solutions in engineering, project delivery and asset management.

Shares of Symbio Holdings (ASX:SYM) experienced a significant rise of 19.1% to A$2.68, triggered by Superloop’s revised acquisition offer.

Meanwhile, Superloop’s share performance remained static.

This surge places Symbio’s stocks on trajectory for their best performance since April 27.

Superloop presented their best and final non-binding indicative offer valuing Symbio at A$2.91 per share, marking a 29.3% premium to its last closing price.

The offer also takes into consideration a fully-franked dividend to Symbio shareholders of up to A$0.35 per share.

Symbio’s performance this year has proven positive, they boast a 44.2% increase year-to-date as of their latest close.

Symbio Holdings is a leading company specializing in streamlined telecommunication services.

Shares belonging to Nickel Industries (ASX:NIC) plummeted by as much as 3.5% down to A$0.753, marking the lowest level since August 31.

The stock, which is currently down 2.9%, may see its worst day since September 6 if the losses adhere.

Nickel Industries sustained the hit after it successfully placed 19.99% of the company’s ordinary shares with United Tractor’s unit PT Danusa Tambang Nusantara.

Nickel Industries claims the placement followed an issuance of 857 million shares and the subsequent receipt of the subscription amount of A$942.7 million ($604.74 million).

Nickel Industries has seen a 19.6% slump in its stock this year as of the last closure.

Nickel Industries is a specialty mining company.

Australian mining stocks (ASX:AXMM) have taken a hit this week, dropping as much as 2.2% to reach their lowest level since August 17th.

The stocks have further tumbled nearly 5% over the course of this week, anticipating their biggest weekly decline since March 10th.

If the losses sustain, this would be the fifth steady session drop for the sub-index.

The fallout has been largely due to a slump in iron ore prices which happened following an indication from the U.S.

Federal Reserve that they intend to hike the rates again by year’s end.

Copper prices are also not spared from the downward trend, reaching their lowest in almost four months.

Major industry players such as BHP Group (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have experienced significant drops in their share prices by 2.4% and 2.9%, respectively.

Fortescue (ASX:FMG) has also suffered, falling as much as 3%.

As of the latest market closure, the AXMM saw a decline of 3.2% this year against a 0.4% gain in the benchmark index.

Australian mining stocks comprise various industry players involved in the extraction, processing, and marketing of precious minerals and other geological materials.

Shares of Diverger (ASX:DVR) have experienced a significant increase, rising as much as 19.6% to A$1.070.

If the gains hold, this would be its best day since October 28, 2020.

Diverger reports that it has been acquired by Count (ASX:CUP) for A$45.3 million.

Under the terms of the deal, Diverger shareholders will receive A$0.367 per share in cash and 1.38 Count shares per every Diverger share held.

This per-share consideration represents a 27.4% premium to the stock’s last closing price.

Diverger’s stock has reached the highest level since November 25, 2022.

The volume of shares changed hands exceeded 112,000, a substantial increase over the 30-day average volume of about 17,000 shares.

Diverger’s stock has experienced a 10.9% gain this week, heading towards its best week since July 8; however, it is down 8.2% year to date, as of the last close.

On the other hand, Count’s shares fell as much as 7.1% to A$0.520, becoming their lowest value since August 25.

Diverger is a company that has recently seen a significant boost in its share price due to an acquisition deal with Count.

Shares of Image Resources (ASX:IMA) have fallen as much as 13.1% to a price of A$0.073, marking their lowest level since October 2, 2017.

The downfall is set to be the worst day for the company’s stock since July 29, 2022, if the losses persist.

The plunge comes after the diversified miner initiated layoffs due to ongoing delays in obtaining environmental approvals for a mining project onshore in Western Australia.

The company has alerted more than half of the project’s on-field workforce that their jobs would be redundant, effective from September 30.

After these layoffs, Image Resources has stated that the project will transition to care and maintenance mode.

Approximately 760,851 shares exchanged hands, 3.9 times the 30-day average volume of 195,656 shares.

As of the most recent closing, the stock is down by 37.8% this year.

Image Resources is a diversified mining company with operations located in Western Australia.

Shares of Lefroy Exploration (ASX:LEX) have experienced a steep drop of as much as 10% to A$0.180 - the lowest they’ve seen since July 3.

The gold mining company has recently stated that it’s secured firm commitments to raise A$6.2 million in a share placement process that was heavily oversubscribed.

This share placement issue was priced at A$0.16, marking a significant 20% discount to the stock’s last closing price.

According to the company, the proceeds from the placement will be utilized to accelerate exploration at their Location 45 project in Western Australia.

Trading volume for the company’s stock is notably high, with 62,763 shares changing hands in contrast to the 30-day average volume of 44,001.

The company’s shares are likely facing their worst day since July 20 and potentially, their worst week since July 21 if the losses persist.

As of the last closing, LEX has seen a year-to-date decrease of 23.1%.

Lefroy Exploration (ASX:LEX) is a gold mining company that is closely involved in conducting exploration at various locations.

Costa Group’s shares soar by as much as 7.9% to A$3.130, marking their highest level since August 23.

This makes Costa Group (ASX:CGC) the highest gainer on the S&P/ASX 200 index.

Currently, the stock is up 6.7% which would result in its best day since July 4 if the gains hold.

The horticulture company revealed that it has entered an agreement to be acquired by a consortium led by US private equity firm Paine Schwartz.

This deal values the company at A$1.50 billion.

As per the agreement, shareholders of Costa Group (ASX:CGC) would receive A$3.20 for each share that Paine Schwartz doesn’t already own, representing a 10.3% premium to the company’s last closure.

Over 5.3 million shares have changed hands, which is 2.8 times the 30-day average volume of 1.9 million shares.

This year, the stock had risen 5.5% till the last closure, in contrast to a 0.4% increase in the S&P/ASX 200 index.

Costa Group is a leading horticulture company specializing in the farming, packing and marketing of fresh produce.