News about small caps

The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index gained 68.80 points (2.20%) to 3,189.20 on Friday, though it remained down 111.90 points (3.39%) over the past five trading days. Noble Helium applied for an exploration permit covering about 7,760 square kilometres in Western Australia's Southern Carnarvon Basin, following sampling that showed elevated helium and hydrogen readings. NewPeak Metals has secured a drill rig and full funding for a minimum 1,000-metre second phase of diamond drilling at its Las Opeñas Gold Project in Argentina, scheduled to begin in mid-October 2026. Medallion Metals is targeting first gold production and sales in November, with processing at its Cosmic Boy Concentrator set to begin in October. Orion Minerals' US$40 million Tranche A financing from Glencore has become unconditional, clearing the way for development of the Uppers Mine at its Prieska Copper Zinc Mine in South Africa.