ASX BRIEFS

Andrew Musgrave

Welcome to 'ASX BRIEFS,' the definitive podcast for enthusiasts, investors, and professionals keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Hosted by Andrew Musgrave, 'ASX BRIEFS' delves deep into the heart of Australia's financial markets, bringing you insightful conversations with the minds shaping the future of investing down under. Each episode, join Andrew as he interviews a diverse lineup of fund managers, executives, and industry insiders, offering you a unique blend of expert analysis, strategic insights, and the latest trends affecting the ASX. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, 'ASX BRIEFS' is your go-to source for comprehensive updates and thought-provoking discussions designed to inform, inspire, and empower your investment journey. Tune in to 'ASX BRIEFS' and take the pulse of Australia's financial markets right at your fingertips.

  1. Sep 24

    FORTUNA METALS LTD (ASX:FUN) - What Happens When Critical Minerals Meet A Supply Crunch

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - Fortuna Metals Ltd (ASX:FUN) A world-scale rutile story doesn’t usually appear overnight, but Mkanda has moved at a pace that’s hard to ignore. We sit down with Tom Langley, CEO of Fortuna Metals, to trace how the Mkanda Rutile Graphite Project in Malawi jumped from acquisition to an inferred resource that ranks among the top contained rutile deposits globally, and why that speed is possible when mineralisation starts at surface and stays open. We break down what makes Mkanda geologically different from many mineral sands style projects. Tom explains how high-grade metamorphism in Malawi upgrades titanium-bearing minerals so the deposit skews heavily toward rutile, then how weathering helps reconcentrate minerals near surface. We also get into metallurgy and why it matters: bulk sample test work points to a high-purity rutile product at 96% plus TiO2 with low impurities, the sort of detail that pigment, welding and titanium metal producers care about when they think about specifications, penalties and reliable supply. The conversation widens to the optionality that could change the economics over time. Alongside rutile, Mkanda carries graphite and shows elevated heavy rare earths like dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, plus potential zircon and monazite. We talk funding and strategy too, including why a Silicon Valley based cornerstone investor is part of the register, and what Malawi’s rail access and the route to the deep-water port at Nacala could mean for logistics. We finish with the macro picture: tightening natural rutile supply, growing demand signals across industrial end uses, and the “blue sky” narrative around titanium and humanoid robotics. If you’re tracking ASX critical minerals, titanium dioxide feedstocks, or emerging African mining jurisdictions, this is a practical update with clear near-term catalysts. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate who follows resources, and leave us a review.

  2. Sep 21

    QBIOTICS LTD - QBiotics Cancer Injection Shows Strong Early Responses

    Send us Fan Mail A cancer therapy discovered through Australian nature sounds like folklore until you hear the data and the strategy behind it. Andrew is joined by Ebru Davidson, interim CEO and Managing Director of QBiotics Limited, to unpack how an unlisted Brisbane biotech is building “partner-ready” clinical programs from its epoxy tigilianes platform.  We walk through tigilanol tiglate (TT), an intratumoural oncology drug candidate in phase two development, and what it means to report a 78% objective response rate in injected tumours in a refractory head and neck cancer trial. Ebru explains the clinical context, why durability matters, and the drug’s multifactorial mechanism of action: rapid tumour destruction, vascular disruption, local inflammation, and immune activation. We also talk about why consistent signals across head and neck cancer and soft tissue sarcoma strengthen the case for tumour-agnostic potential, even while each indication still needs its own evidence path.  Then we shift to chronic wounds and EBC-1013, a wound-healing hydrogel in a phase one dose-escalation trial for venous leg ulcers. You’ll hear how the approach differs from standard wound care, why disrupting biofilm and restarting the biology of healing could be critical for hard-to-heal wounds, and what “success” should look like for patients and health systems. We close with near-term milestones, the funding mix across programs, and how QBiotics thinks about partnering, non-dilutive funding, and the road to larger trials and regulators like the FDA and EMA.  If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with someone following Australian biotech and clinical trials, and leave a review. What’s the most important proof point you want to see next from TT or EBC-1013?

  3. Sep 20

    ALCHEMY RESOURCES LTD (ASX:ALY) Bryah Basin Iron Ore Breakthrough

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - Alchemy Resources Ltd (ASX:ALY) A junior explorer can’t do everything at once, so the smart ones pick their shots, partner early, and protect the balance sheet while they drill. That’s what we dig into with James Wilson, CEO of Alchemy Resources Limited, after a busy quarter across Western Australia and New South Wales that moves iron ore, copper-gold and gold assets forward while keeping funding front of mind.  We start with the Bryah Basin iron ore project, where Newcam Minerals exercises its option to earn 60% and step into the manager’s seat. James explains why that matters: Newcam brings real iron ore mining experience, integrated haulage and established shipping and sales pathways, while Alchemy is free carried through to a decision to mine. We also unpack what the Valley Bore results suggest about scale and continuity, and what the practical development pathway looks like from flora and fauna studies through to a focused drill-out and the permits needed to prepare for mining.  Then we head to Yellow Mountain, Alchemy’s flagship copper-gold and base metals play, where RC drilling is underway against a backdrop of historic mining, surface mineralisation and a standout intercept of 113 metres at 1.17% copper equivalent. James walks us through induced polarisation geophysics, the logic behind chasing a large anomaly under the mountain, and why a potential porphyry source could be the key to a bigger discovery. We also cover the portfolio refocus via the Karonie and Lake Rebecca sale to Forrestania (and the value of NSR royalties), the Billabong Gold JV with Catalyst Metals, and how $800,000 cash plus a liquid share parcel supports near-term drilling without rushing into dilution.  If you follow ASX resources, mineral exploration drilling, and the reality of funding high-impact targets, hit play, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more investors can find the show.

  4. Sep 15

    AML3D LTD (ASX:AL3) - Record FY26 Results Show What Scales Next For AML3D

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - AML3D Ltd (ASX:AL3) A metal part fails on a ship, the clock starts ticking, and the supply chain suddenly matters more than the design. That’s the lens we bring to our chat with Sean Ebert, Managing Director and CEO of AML3D Limited, as we unpack how industrial-scale metal 3D printing is moving into real defence and infrastructure workflows, not just lab demos. We talk through AML3D’s record FY26 result, including $12.5 million in revenue growth and the first half-year EBITDA profit, and what changed operationally to get there. Sean breaks down how the ARCEMY® additive manufacturing system works, why the company sells both systems and printed parts, and how contracted work rolling into FY27 and beyond creates genuine revenue visibility. We also dig into the drivers behind strong gross margins and what “pricing power” looks like when your customers are major industrial and defence organisations. From there, we zoom in on the US Navy scale-up: 14 ARCEMY® systems contracted into the maritime industrial base, a pathway that starts with smaller contractors and moves up to primes like HII and Austal, and a US Navy letter of intent that signals demand out to 2030. Sean also explains the Navy’s “interchangeability” rule and why it could lift adoption of additive manufactured components versus traditional casting and forging. Beyond defence, we explore why Tennessee Valley Authority and other energy-sector wins matter strategically, and what needs to happen before a UK and European footprint becomes more than a plan. If you care about ASX industrial tech, defence supply chains, additive manufacturing, and what can make or break execution at scale, hit play. Subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave us a review with your biggest question about where metal 3D printing goes next.

  5. Sep 13

    GALE PACIFIC LTD (ASX:GAP) - GALE Pacific’s Turnaround Playbook

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - GALE Pacific Ltd (ASX:GAP) Revenue drops, yet EBITDA rises and the balance sheet flips to net cash. That’s the tension at the heart of our chat with Troy Mortleman, CEO of GALE Pacific Limited, the ASX-listed manufacturer behind innovative shade fabrics and technical textile solutions sold across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Dubai and more than 40 countries. We walk through how GALE Pacific lifts earnings quality on a smaller revenue base by tightening cost control, simplifying operations, and improving product and customer mix. Troy explains the $7m+ operating expense reduction, including the Americas operating model reset, and why protecting customer-facing capability matters when you’re cutting costs. We also unpack the FY26 “mixed result” scorecard: a net loss alongside meaningful progress in cash flow, inventory and financial resilience. The cash flow story is the standout. Operating cash flow swings to $21.4m and the company moves from net debt to net cash, powered by disciplined working capital management and an $8.6m inventory reduction without lowering service levels. From there we go region by region: soft US consumer demand and deliberate retailer inventory realignment, new retail agreements that expand reach to 12,000+ outlets, and a sharp ANZ margin lift driven by mix and cost discipline. Troy also discusses grain storage demand cycles, Middle East disruption risk and the advantage of holding inventory in Dubai, plus momentum in Europe, Asia and India. We finish with the strategic moves investors care about: manufacturing diversification with a trusted partner in Thailand, warehouse consolidation in China, and the key milestones to watch over the next 12 to 18 months. Subscribe, share this with a fellow ASX follower, and leave us a review with the one metric you think best signals a real turnaround.

  6. Sep 9

    CHANGE FINANCIAL LTD (ASX:CCA) - How Change Financial Turns Payments As A Service Into Profit

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - Change Financial Ltd (ASX:CCA) Profit doesn’t arrive overnight in fintech, especially when you’re building the core infrastructure that other brands depend on. We’re joined by Tony Sheehan, CEO of Change Financial Limited, to break down the FY26 result and the operational choices that helped tip the company into profit after years of losses. We talk through the mechanics behind the numbers: sustained revenue growth, a stable fixed cost base, and why scaling card issuing volumes can materially lift margins as the platform matures. We also get practical about where growth really comes from. Tony explains what Change Financial delivers across card processing, card issuing and payments testing, including support for digital wallets and white-label card programs. We unpack the drivers behind rising active card counts, how new fintech wins compare with existing customers scaling, and why investors should pay attention to the six to nine month lag between signing a client and seeing meaningful live-program revenue. Then we zoom in on PaySim, the payments testing product that’s the default EFTPOS certification standard in Australia, yet still holds a tiny share of a massive global market. Tony shares what has held sales back, why modernising the interface matters as testing teams change, how a partner distribution model supports global expansion, and where agentic AI is already improving development speed and operational efficiency. We finish with a candid lesson from exiting the US: in payments, controlling your own destiny often comes down to licensing and regulatory leverage. If you found this useful, please subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave us a review so more listeners can find ASX Briefs.

  7. Sep 7

    NOVA EYE MEDICAL LTD (EYE) - Interventional Glaucoma Explained

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - Nova Eye Medical Ltd (ASX:EYE) One of the biggest surprises in eye health is how often cataracts and glaucoma overlap, and what that means for treatment choices. We’re joined by Tom Spurling, Managing Director of Nova Eye Medical, to unpack interventional glaucoma and the iTrack™ Advance platform, including why “treat earlier” can be a very different patient journey compared with years of glaucoma eye drops and the risks of waiting until the disease is severe. We talk through how iTrack™ Advance can be performed during cataract surgery, the world’s most common operation, and why that channel matters so much for adoption in the US. Tom also explains Nova Eye Medical’s competitive stance in the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) market: a tissue-sparing, implant-free approach versus alternatives that cut tissue, bypass pathways, or leave an implant behind. It’s a clear lens on how clinicians make choices when patient safety, outcomes, and simplicity all compete for attention. On the numbers, we cover FY26 sales growth, expanding gross margins, and what positive EBITDA signals about operating leverage as the business scales. We also look at the market runway in the US, the logic behind FY27 guidance, and where international growth could come from next, including Europe and the longer-term potential of China. If you care about ASX healthcare stocks, medtech commercial execution, or the future of glaucoma treatment, hit subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave us a review so more people can find ASX Briefs.

  8. Sep 3

    MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL LTD (MHJ) - The Next Steps For Sustainable Growth

    Send us Fan Mail ASX Investment Opportunity - Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX:MHJ) Gold prices keep pushing higher, currencies swing, and consumer spending stays selective, yet Michael Hill International is finding ways to grow. We’re joined by CEO Jonathan Waecker to talk through why he calls FY26 the beginning of a turnaround, not the end, and what has to be true for the market to trust the next phase. We get specific on the levers behind the numbers: same store sales growth across markets, stronger EBIT, lower net debt, and the push for sustainable momentum rather than a single strong year.  We also unpack how a jewellery retailer defends gross margin when precious metals hit repeated record highs, and why Jonathan believes customers will still pay when value is clear. From there, we go market by market: Canada’s record performance and the way stores and e-commerce reinforce each other, Australia’s ability to lift sales and margin without needless discounting, and New Zealand’s rebound driven by sharper value and the right range across key categories like bridal, solid gold, and diamond fashion.  The conversation turns to execution and focus. Jonathan explains the Bevilles reset, the decision to simplify the brand portfolio so more energy goes into the core Michael Hill brand, and the size of the online opportunity with digital penetration still well below global peers. We finish on capital allocation, transparency between constant currency and AUD reporting, and the single metric he most wants to move over the next 12 months: EBIT.  If you found this useful, subscribe to ASX Briefs, share the episode with a mate who follows retail and the ASX, and leave a review with your take on what makes a turnaround truly stick.

About

Welcome to 'ASX BRIEFS,' the definitive podcast for enthusiasts, investors, and professionals keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Hosted by Andrew Musgrave, 'ASX BRIEFS' delves deep into the heart of Australia's financial markets, bringing you insightful conversations with the minds shaping the future of investing down under. Each episode, join Andrew as he interviews a diverse lineup of fund managers, executives, and industry insiders, offering you a unique blend of expert analysis, strategic insights, and the latest trends affecting the ASX. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, 'ASX BRIEFS' is your go-to source for comprehensive updates and thought-provoking discussions designed to inform, inspire, and empower your investment journey. Tune in to 'ASX BRIEFS' and take the pulse of Australia's financial markets right at your fingertips.

You Might Also Like