🕒 Friday 23 October 2026 Fri, 23 Oct 2026

PeopleIN improved underlying earnings and reduced leverage in FY26 despite a statutory loss, as Queensland’s infrastructure demand drove a sharp recovery in its core workforce division. The company is now betting that a leaner portfolio, Infrawork’s trans-Tasman labour channel and Brisbane 2032-related work can sustain the upturn.

Equus Energy has secured a binding conditional 10-year gas sales agreement with Alcoa covering about 50 TJ a day, while receiving US$1.5 million to fund the next stage of project partnering. The milestone strengthens the commercial case for the Equus Gas Project, but the development remains pre-FID and requires substantial capital, partners and approvals.

IPD Group closed FY26 with record revenue and earnings, a higher fully franked dividend and leverage of about 0.3 times underlying EBITDA. The electrical infrastructure provider enters FY27 with its data centre pipeline and Platinum Cables integration carrying much of the growth narrative.

Swoop Holdings has agreed to sell its Sydney-based Fibre assets to Xenith for approximately $4.5 million, extending a portfolio simplification drive aimed at reducing debt. Completion remains subject to FIRB approval and other conditions, with settlement expected in Q3 FY27.

Eminence Minerals has exercised options to earn an initial 30% interest across five Côte d’Ivoire gold projects covering about 1,508 km². The interests remain subject to completion conditions, while the company prepares to lead exploration across 871 km² of granted tenure.

Monash IVF Group’s underlying NPAT fell 41% to A$16.1 million in FY26, missing its recently reduced guidance as softer Australian IVF activity outweighed international growth. A second-half market-share recovery, lower planned capital spending and a new productivity program now carry the FY27 investment case.

X2M Connect has secured 60-day exclusivity over a Queensland site for a planned 10MW AI-enabled data centre, with development approval and 2.5MW of grid capacity already in place. The estimated $250 million project could add delivery revenue, recurring platform fees and a potential token revenue share, but key commercial terms remain unresolved.

Paradigm’s administrators have asked the Supreme Court of Western Australia for up to three more months to assess sale and recapitalisation proposals. Without the extension, they say they would have no alternative but to recommend winding up the biotech.

Hawthorn Resources is nearing a financial investment decision on a larger Anglo-Saxon open pit after upgrading the project’s resource to about 200,000 ounces. The opportunity is advancing alongside a wider FY2026 loss, falling cash and pending exploration results at Pinjin East.

Firebrick Pharma is escalating Nasodine’s US push from online sales into retail pharmacies while its September-quarter cash balance fell to A$875,000. The company reported a A$398,000 operating cash outflow and estimated 2.2 quarters of funding at the current rate.

Whitehaven Coal has opened FY27 with a 22% year-on-year jump in managed ROM production, while terminal disruptions pushed equity sales lower and lifted inventories. Costs remained at the low end of guidance, prices strengthened and full-year targets were unchanged.

Acusensus has secured a five-year ACT Government traffic enforcement contract valued at approximately $63 million, with extension options that could lift the total to $210 million. The deal broadens its role from specialist detection to a territory-wide enforcement platform, although rollout is not expected until mid-2027.

Proteomics International will take Promarker D and Promarker Eso nationwide through Healius from 26 October, extending its first commercial release beyond Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The tests will initially be offered privately at $495 and $997, while revenue remains too uncertain to forecast.

Fenix Resources has monetised most of its iron ore swap book for more than A$10 million, converting protection on 480,000 tonnes into near-term cash. The move leaves the company retaining diesel and currency hedges while restoring exposure to prevailing iron ore prices on the settled tonnes.

Arovella has released two clinical batches of its off-the-shelf CAR-iNKT therapy, activated two trial sites and begun screening patients ahead of expected first dosing in October. The biotech ended September with A$11.6 million in cash, rising to about A$15.63 million pro forma after an R&D rebate.

Whitefield Income more than doubled FY2026 profit to $16 million while raising $187 million and maintaining fully franked monthly dividends. Yet net asset backing per share slipped to $1.23 as investment revaluations weighed on equity.

Alkane Resources delivered 40,740 gold equivalent ounces in the September quarter, generated A$102 million in mine operating cash flow and reaffirmed FY27 production guidance. The result also funded the company’s maiden dividend while leaving A$440 million in cash and bullion.

BluGlass has expanded its customer-funded GaN laser programs with a A$1.4 million Uviquity contract and a new A$286,000 photonics collaboration. But its A$8 million facility is fully drawn, carries 16.5% interest and leaves reported funding coverage at 2.8 quarters.

Zip delivered strong first-quarter growth, with total transaction volume up 18% to A$4.6 billion, but a US fraud event cost A$10.1 million and pushed group net bad debts higher. The company nevertheless reaffirmed its A$340 million FY27 cash EBTDA target, with September momentum offering an early test of whether the disruption was temporary.

Newmont Corporation (ASX:NEM) delivered record third-quarter adjusted net income of US$2.3 billion and US$1.9 billion in free cash flow, despite lower gold output and higher unit costs. The gold major also moved Red Chris closer to a potential US$4.2 billion to US$4.8 billion development decision in early 2027.

Lovisa delivered another year of strong reported growth, with revenue rising 17.6% to A$938.8 million as its store network passed 1,100 locations. But comparable store sales grew just 2.0%, leaving management’s expansion engine carrying more of the load while executive incentive hurdles went unmet.

Temple & Webster is holding to its FY27 EBITDA target of $33 million to $40 million even as revenue fell 8% in the first months of the year. The online retailer says reduced discounting is depressing sales but improving contribution margins, while AI, private-label products and brand investment move from testing into rollout.

Peet delivered record FY26 earnings as its proposed sale to Ingenia moves through the approval process. Profit rose 77% to $103.4 million, while contracts on hand climbed to $850.7 million and the fully franked dividend increased to 13 cents per share.

Bhagwan Marine reported $81.3 million in Q1 FY27 revenue, up 32% on the prior corresponding period, as subsea services and Riverside Industrial Sands led a stronger start to the year. Recurring revenue also increased to 64%, while new subsea awards and a Riverside Guardian contract added to the growth pipeline.