Matt Birney

In the Lithium business it can be very profitable to own a mine, however, turning that Lithium into battery grade chemicals, commonly known as downstream processing, can be even more lucrative. Market darling Pilbara Minerals have given a hint of their medium term strategy after signing an MOU to move into the Lithium downstream processing business with the Chinese. 

MGC Pharmaceuticals have done what few other medical cannabis companies have managed to do – make money.The company received first revenues from its “MGC Derma” medical cannabis based line of anti-ageing cosmetics this week from their Californian distributor who has committed to buy 1.2m Euro's worth of product in the first year. 

ASX listed Sky and Space Global have signed a deal with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic to launch a “constellation” of up to 200 of its nano-satellites into space aboard Branson’s visionary space craft “Launcher One.” Virgin Galactic created LauncherOne specifically to focus on launching nano-satellites into space in an affordable way. 

Many companies that list on the ASX do so with the promise of “going global” once they are listed but don't manage to live up to that promise. One recent ASX listing that looks like it might be good for its word is Perth based Shark Mitigation Systems who have just secured a contract to protect the world's best surfers with their “Clever Buoy’ shark detection technology. 

Junior explorer Hammer Metals has accessed a little known Federal Government program to give their shareholders a tax windfall worth nearly half a cent per share. Hammer successfully applied for inclusion in the federal Government’s “Exploration Development Incentive Scheme” which effectively allows exploration companies to pass on some tax losses to their shareholders. 

Sipa Resources might be onto something at their Akelikongo Nickel/Copper prospect in Uganda. The company recently completed a 12 hole RC drilling program returning solid numbers across very wide intercepts at the project, many of which start from surface. With mineralized intersections up to 120m thick, if they find something at Akelikongo it is likely to be damn big. 

Red Mountain Mining have released the results from their much anticipated pre-feasibility study into the Batangas Gold Project just two hours drive south of Manila in the Philippines. The PFS shows the mine will churn out $46m in free cash over the initial 7 year mine life and produce gold at USD$735 an ounce from a maiden reserve of 128 000 ounces of gold. The project has plenty of upside from a further 320 000 ounces still sitting at inferred status.

Sky and Space Global have passed a major milestone in their quest to catapult three miniature satellites, known as “nano-satellite’s” into space. European aerospace company GomSpace, who are contracted to manufacture the company's first three nano-satellites, recently announced that the Preliminary Design Review for the first three nano-satellites was complete.

Anti-Cancer drug hopeful Pharmaust will be fully funded to enter into Phase 2 human trials after well established New York investment bank Joseph Gunnar and Co agreed to underwrite the company’s next capital raise which will be done in the USA. Phase 2 trials are expected to start in a couple of months after their anti-Cancer drug is reformulated to make it more palatable.