The Australian sharemarket is expected to open higher on Wednesday, with futures at 6.01am AEST pointing to a gain of 35 points, or 0.4%, as easing oil prices and record closes on Wall Street support investor sentiment.
Investors will also be watching results from Pinnacle Investment Management, Argo Investments and Light & Wonder.
Australian household spending rose 0.8% in June 2026, supported by stronger discretionary expenditure on new vehicles, air travel, electronic goods and entertainment, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The seasonally adjusted increase followed a 1.2% rise in May and a 1.0% decline in April.
Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ATX, OTCQB:INNMF) has signed a clinical collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to evaluate its lead drug narmafotinib alongside Lilly’s next-generation KRAS G12C inhibitor olomorasib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The planned Phase 1b/2b trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the targeted combination as a second-line treatment for patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC.
Critica Ltd (ASX:CRI, OTC:VTMLF, FRA:VQI0) has achieved a further significant improvement in the processing flowsheet for its Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia, reducing sulphuric acid consumption by around 30% under optimised conditions.
The latest results mark the next stage of Critica’s hydrometallurgical optimisation program and demonstrate that acid consumption of approximately one tonne per tonne of feed can be achieved while maintaining strong rare earth recoveries.
Environmental Clean Technologies Ltd (ASX:ECT, OTC:ECTHF) has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Xenica Materials Pty Ltd, securing exclusive commercial rights to use Flash Joule Heating technology for the production of MXenes and two-dimensional amorphous carbon.
The acquisition represents a major step in ECT’s strategy to build a diversified advanced technology business around the commercial application of Flash Joule Heating, or FJH.
Lumos Diagnostics Holdings Ltd (ASX:LDX, OTC:LDXHF) has received a US$767,800 purchase order for its FebriDx® rapid diagnostic test from US distribution partner PHASE Scientific, marking further progress in the product’s commercial rollout.
The order will be fulfilled progressively through October 2026, with revenue recognised as products are shipped.
Robot vacuum cleaners have become the latest consumer technology caught in Washington’s widening national security crackdown, after US regulators imposed new restrictions on foreign-produced advanced robotic devices.
The Federal Communications Commission added foreign-produced robots to its Covered List on July 28, preventing newly developed devices in the category from receiving the equipment authorisation generally required for sale in the United States unless they secure conditional government approval.
Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX:PNR, OTC:PNTOF, FRA:RKN) has confirmed continuity of high-grade mineralisation at the Racetrack discovery within its 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia, including one of the strongest gold intercepts reported by the company since exploration resumed in 2019.
