Market's intraday record; ASX confuses its TPGs; PBS in Trump crossfire
In today's news, the sharemarket set a new intraday trading record, a Sydney-based automotive software company sold to private equity giant TPG – a sale that had the ASX confused, and Bill and Hillary Clinton have been subpoenaed to testify in an Epstein probe.
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Severe': Blaze rips through cafe, factory at Guildford, Sydney
A blaze has ripped through a cafe and neighbouring factory in Sydney's west overnight. More than 20 firefighters were called to the scene on Byron Rd at Guildford at about 1.40am on Thursday. A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman said the fire spread from the cafe to an adjoining building, causing 'severe damage'. The spokesman said one firefighter had been transported to hospital as a precaution because he had 'a bit of a fall' while battling the blaze. The owner of the cafe reportedly tried to bring the first fire under control before it spread to the neighbouring factory, as per Today. A woman in her 40s - believed to be the cafe owner - and the firefighter were both transported to Westmead Hospital. It has also been reported people were seen getting in the way of emergency services at the scene. NSWFR has said the fire is not being treated as suspicious.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Assistive tech targets market growth while improving lives
Demand for assistive technologies on the rise with growing global ageing population and awareness of disability inclusion Cochlear one of most high-profile ASX assistive technologies companies with legacy spanning more than 40 years Control Bionics helping thousands around the world communicate and connect in ways once thought impossible With a rising global ageing population and awareness of disability inclusion growing, demand is increasing for technologies that help people maintain independence and improve quality of life. Assistive technologies go beyond medical diagnostics or treatment by directly enabling individuals to hear, see, communicate and perform daily activities they might otherwise struggle to do. And while assistive technology delivers clear social benefits and aligns with ESG goals, it's also targeting a rapidly expanding market. Globally the assistive tech market was valued at ~US$22.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US%36.6 bn by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% throughout the decade. In Australia, the assistive technology sector is projected to expand from ~US$720 million in 2023 to more than US$1.7bn by 2030, driven by demographic shifts such as an ageing population and rising prevalence of long-term disabilities. Australia's substantial healthcare expenditure is also considered a pivotal driver for demand in the Australian disabled and elderly assistive device market. Global pioneer in hearing implant technology From restoring communication for those with severe disabilities to preserving vision and enhancing hearing, Australian companies have a proud history in assistive technologies with ASX blue-chip Cochlear (ASX:COH) one of the most high profile. Cochlear stands as one of the world's foremost innovators in assistive hearing technology with a legacy spanning more than 40 years. Cochlear implants and bone conduction devices are life-changing products, which have enabled hundreds of thousands of people globally across all ages to hear and communicate more effectively. Cochlear CEO and president Dig Howitt told Stockhead the organisation continued to progress new technology and care models, having recently launched the Cochlear Nucleus Nexa System, the world's first and only smart implant system. "The Nucleus Nexa Implant is the outcome of a 20 year investment in R&D and is the first cochlear implant to run its own firmware," he said. Howitt said similar to smartphones, the implant firmware could be updated to enable new features and access future innovations. "Recipients will now have access to a better hearing experience with both implant and sound processor updates," he said. "The Nucleus Nexa System builds upon Cochlear's industry-leading portfolio of electrodes, which are designed to optimise the electrode-neural interface and protect cochlea health and opens the door to even greater hearing potential for patients into the future." Enhancing sound in real-world situations While Cochlear may dominate the implantable hearing device market Brisbane-based Audeara (ASX:AUA) is carving out its own space in personalised listening solutions that sit between consumer audio products and clinical hearing aids. The flagship Audeara headphones and TV bundles the company started with use built-in hearing checks to create tailored sound profiles, ensuring clearer, enhanced listening experiences. Audeara managing director James Fielding told Stockhead the features made the devices valuable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss, or for people using cochlear implants and hearing aids who got an incredible entertainment experience when the sound was tailored to their needs. Building its portfolio Audeara launched Buds into its clinic networks this year. Unlike conventional hearing aids, Buds focus on enhancing the sound in real world situations like a busy cafe while also staying true to their entertainment focus, enhancing calls, TV and music. "We believe assistive technology should enhance the human experience without compromise," Fielding said. "At Audeara, our personalised hearing solutions empower people to connect more deeply with music, conversations and entertainment, regardless of their hearing ability." The technology also supports accessibility through government funding programs including NDIS, DVA and the Hearing Services Program, broadening its reach and affordability. With distribution in 1,500 clinics across Australia and more than 3,000 globally, including partnerships with major networks like Specsavers and Amplifon, Audeara is well positioned to capture growth in a market that's both socially impactful and commercially attractive. "The future of assistive technology is about inclusion, not limitation," Fielding said. "Audeara's mission is to ensure that hearing health solutions are seamlessly integrated into everyday life, combining clinical credibility with consumer-level accessibility." 'Giving communication back for more than two decades' Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) CEO Jeremy Steele describes the assistive technology medical device company as "sitting at the intersection of neuroscience and accessibility". "For more than 20 years, Control Bionics has been at the forefront of assistive technology innovation, helping thousands of people around the world communicate and connect in ways once thought impossible," Steele told Stockhead. Control Bionics has developed the NeuroNode – a wearable, watch-like, wireless non-invasive electromyography (EMG) and spatial sensor device to assist cognitive people with physical disabilities perform everyday functions. He said NeuroNode was globally unique as the only augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology of its kind that combined movement and EMG signals into a single platform. "Recognition by the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, awarding NeuroNode the first HCPCS code for an AAC device in 13 years, validates both the technology and the profound impact it delivers," he said. "We're proud to be a pioneer in the fast-emerging neurotechnology space, empowering people living with conditions like ALS, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury to reclaim their voice and their independence." Steele said the company's objective was simple but ambitious – to expand global access to the most advanced, intuitive and life-changing assistive technologies available today. "The NeuroNode isn't just a device, it's a lifeline to communication, control and connection," he said. "We believe that every person – regardless of physical ability — deserves a way to engage with the world. "Our team's work over two decades reflects a deep commitment to designing technologies that break through barriers and restore possibility."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Diggers and Dealers: The fresh faces picking up the keys to the ASX gold mid-tier
A new class of leaders is emerging in the ASX gold scene Taking the mantle from Bill Beament, Raleigh Finlayson and Jake Klein are names like Luke Creagh, James Champion de Crespigny and Alex Rovira Gold miners Ora Banda, Catalyst Metals and Brightstar Resources have sights set on key ASX indices Australia's mid-tier gold sector is always evolving with a host of newcomers now moving into the space previously occupied by Saracen Mineral Holdings and soon, Gold Road Resources. At Diggers and Dealers a decade ago, it was all about Bill Beament's Northern Star Resources, Jake Klein's Evolution Mining and a Raleigh Finlayson's Saracen. These days, Northern Star is a bonafide global major, having swallowed up Saracen, while Evolution is on its way to achieving that status. As for the men behind those companies, for the first time in recent memory, none presented at Diggers this year. Beament is now in copper, Klein has stepped back to non-executive chair at Evolution and Finlayson is rapidly growing Genesis Minerals into Australia's next gold major, but sent lieutenant Matt Nixon in his stead. Replacing them is a bunch of up-and-comers and first-time CEOs with the potential to lead their growing producers into the ASX 200. Luke Creagh, Ora Banda (ASX:OBM) The Davyhurst gold operation in the Eastern Goldfields has been the undoing of several previous owners, but under the leadership of mining engineer Luke Creagh, Ora Banda has turned it around. 'We've spent three years trying to fix it and now it's like 'game on',' Creagh told Stockhead. 'So this is the starting point – we've actually got a company to work with now, which is nice.' Davyhurst produced 91,687 ounces of gold in the 2025 financial year, up 32% year-on-year, with FY26 production guidance of 140,000-155,000oz. 'The exciting thing about Ora Banda from the very first moment was the organic growth potential, so 140km of strike you've got two regional geological formations with the Zuleika shear and Ida fault, and no one's ever looked for undergrounds,' Creagh said. 'That, to me, is the exciting thing. 'The other thing that I think people forget in the industry is how much money it takes to drill out a deposit from scratch and get it into production. 'Our ability to have… to find two undergrounds (being capital constrained), start them and get them up to steady state has been pretty awesome, but it probably points to the prospectivity of the belt.' Creagh, who was previously chief operating officer at Northern Star, said critical mass in the mining sector was important. 'I think being in the mining industry now, your corporate costs are higher than what they used to be, because you need all your disciplines covered,' he said. 'We feel like we've spent three years getting to the starting point. Now we've actually got cashflow and critical mass from a production perspective, but also a capability perspective, to be able to actually grow the company really sensibly.' James Champion de Crespigny, Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL) Under James Champion de Crespigny, Catalyst has gone from a small-scale producer in Tasmania to an emerging WA mid-tier. The company has been busy consolidating the Marymia gold belt in WA and is now a 100,000oz per annum producer from the Plutonic operation, a long-running mine that was losing money when Catalyst picked it up two years ago. Its most recent deal was the $32.5 million acquisition of the Old Highway deposit in May, as well as the divestment of its legacy asset, the Henty gold mine in Tasmania. The company also raised $150 million and secured a $100 million funding facility, which remains undrawn, giving the company $330 million of liquidity. The stock is up by more than 144% over the past 12 months. Catalyst has outlined a goal to increase production to 200,000ozpa over the next three years while lowering all-in sustaining costs to below $2000 an ounce. Speaking to Stockhead during Diggers, de Crespigny said it was hard to know what the future held, so the focus at Catalyst was on things within the company's control. 'I think internally, we try and keep terribly focused on the belt, and we think we can get that to 200,000 ounces, and we do think that as we get further down that line, we're probably quite well-placed in terms of our value relative to others,' he said. 'I think we've got ambitions to do bigger things. Whether or not we're good enough to get there, time will tell. Whether or not the conditions present, time will tell. 'But we think we've got a very strong technical team. We think we've got a very good operating team, so if the opportunity presents, hopefully we can be good enough to seize those opportunities.' Though smaller than Ora Banda or Catalyst, Brightstar is experiencing rapid growth under geologist and former Canaccord Genuity investment banker Alex Rovira. In the past two years, Brightstar has merged with Kingwest Resources and Alto Metals, acquired unlisted Linden Alliance, bought Gateway Mining's Montague project and only last month, announced a merger with Aurumin. The company's Second Fortune and Fish underground mines in WA's Goldfields are ramping up to 35,000-40,000ozpa, but the company has much bigger ambitions. 'When we execute on Menzies and Laverton, then ultimately Sandstone, we're targeting a plus-200,000 ounce production profile,' Rovira told Stockhead at Diggers. 'That's akin to what Ramelius and Westgold were doing 24 months ago, prior to some of their recent acquisitions. 'Ultimately, I'm a firm believer that you need scale. Institutional investors aren't going to buy something that's a 30,000 or 40,000 ounce producer.' Brightstar's plan is to develop the Menzies and Laverton projects, which will fund the larger Sandstone project. Rovira said the company wanted multiple operating hubs like its larger peers Genesis and Westgold. 'Having multiple sites enables multiple areas of focus, so from an M&A perspective, from an exploration perspective, it gives you a broader scope to build out a business that's going to be around for hopefully a long time,' he said. Rovira admitted he'd been slightly naïve when he was an investment banker. 'You think you know everything about mining, and you go work for mining company and realise you actually know nothing, but it's been a great experience,' he said. Brightstar has gone from a handful of employees to 130 in less than three years and building up capability has been a strong focus for Rovira. It's even been drawing talent from the larger mid-tier gold miners. 'We've obviously had a very aggressive two and a half years and the opportunity that presents for people is exciting, it's attractive,' he said. 'I know we've been very active on the M&A front and that's what people see, but ultimately, building a business is challenging, and you need the right people, and I think we've been very focused on making sure we've got the right bums in the right seats.'
