Australian shares traded lower in a choppy session on Tuesday, as investors weighed tentative optimism around Middle East diplomacy against uncertainty ahead of a potential US–Iran ceasefire deadline.
The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 18 points, or 0.2%, to 8,935.30 by 12.14pm AEST, moving within an intraday range of 8,911.5 to 8,976.1.
Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF) says a routine regulatory inspection of one of its Indonesian Phase 3 clinical trial sites has cleared the way for the study to continue, marking an important step forward in its push toward registration for diabetic foot infections.
The inspection, carried out by Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (Badan POM), reviewed trial conduct, site processes, data integrity and compliance with Good Clinical Practice standards at a site involved in the company’s Phase 3 R327-G301 study.
Percheron Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:PER, OTC:PERCF) has presented new phase I clinical data for its cancer therapy candidate HMBD-002 at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in San Diego, marking an important step forward for the company’s oncology program, which is “very well positioned” to progress, with $2.2 million in a recent raise expected to drive development work ahead of a targeted phase II study in calendar 2026.
The poster presentation outlined results from a completed phase I study of HMBD-002 in 48 patients with a range of advanced cancers across six US centres, providing the company with early clinical validation as it works towards the next stage of development.
Janus Electric Holdings Ltd (ASX:JNS) has made two senior appointments as it continues to strengthen its leadership bench for the next stage of growth, bringing in operational electric vehicle expertise and high-level energy infrastructure and governance experience.
The company has appointed Simon Fitzgerald as general manager production and engineering and Michael Cummings as senior adviser to the board, with both hires aligned to Janus’ push to broaden its commercial deployment and support expansion into adjacent fleet electrification markets.
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM, OTC:ESGFF, FRA:M6N) has returned a new batch of high-grade gold hits from infill and extensional drilling at the Golden Pole lode within its Waihi project near the Davyhurst processing plant in Western Australia, strengthening the case for the area to be included in an updated mineral resource and maiden underground ore reserve due in the June 2026 quarter.
“These excellent drill results build on the rapidly growing body of work at Waihi and we’re moving to incorporate these into an updated Waihi underground Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Estimate scheduled for release this quarter," Ora Banda’s managing director, Luke Creagh, said.
Solis Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:SLMN, ASX:SLM, OTCQB:SLMFF, FRA:08WA) is expanding beyond Peru and into Brazil’s fast-emerging lithium sector through the acquisition of a large-scale exploration package in Minas Gerais, a move that broadens its exposure across battery metals and adds a second growth front alongside its copper portfolio.
The company has struck a deal to acquire 100% of the Brazil Lithium Project from a Rio Tinto subsidiary, securing a 93,000-hectare landholding in the Araçuaí-Salinas Lithium Valley, one of the world’s most active hard-rock lithium districts.
Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) has reported encouraging preliminary metallurgical testwork from the Sua prospect within its Idenburg Project in Indonesia, with results pointing to high gold recoveries from conventional processing routes.
Testwork on three composite drill core samples returned total gold recovery of about 95% under combined gravity and carbon-in-leach (CIL) conditions, supporting the potential for a relatively straightforward processing flowsheet at Sua.