Speculative small caps drove the week, with Tasman Resources, Solis Minerals and Lithium Energy leading the board after funding, drilling and asset sale updates. At the other end, ASX Ltd and Arafura Rare Earths fell hard as investors reacted to higher costs and fresh equity issuance.

Small-cap materials stocks swung hard as fresh funding, mine build decisions and standout drill hits drove the week’s biggest moves. Gold, lithium, rare earths and tungsten names all drew buying, while a few raisings and weak follow-through after trading halts kept losses sharp.

Biotech names led healthcare trading this week, with Noxopharm, Acrux and TruScreen posting the biggest moves after clinical, licensing and expansion updates. Stronger cash flow, fresh capital and new contracts also lifted sentiment across medtech, aged care and healthcare services.