ASX:ILU

ASX Biggest Gainers

Here are the ASX-listed companies with the biggest gains on Friday.Mineral 260 (ASX:MI6): +10%, AU$0.80Light & Wonder CDI (ASX:LNW): +7%, AU$126.43Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU): +7%, AU$7.25Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS): +6%, AU$4.57Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX): +6%, AU$15.89Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR): +6%, AU$1.14Predictive Discovery (ASX:PDI): +6%, AU$0.77West African Resources (ASX:WAF): +5%, AU$3.49James Hardie Industries (ASX:JHX): +5%, AU$42.78Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU): +4%, AU$22.52

Update: Iluka Resources Posts Lower Q2 Zircon, Rutile, Synthetic Rutile Production; Shares Up 6%

(Updates to add stock movement in the headline and last paragraph)Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) reported zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production of 58,000 tonnes and sales of 157,000 tonnes for the second quarter ended June 30, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.The company reported zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production of 149,700 tonnes and sales of 132,700 tonnes in the same period last year.The company said that expected full year final product volumes from Balranald operations are now lower than were included in group zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production guidance as provided in February, as full year zircon production volumes are in line with guidance of 180,000 tonnes, but now a more even split between sand and zircon-in-concentrate.Iluka expects full-year mineral sands capital expenditure to be about AU$115 million and first half underlying mineral sands earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization to be about AU$40 million, with a net loss after tax of about AU$25 million, subject to review.As of June 30, net debt was AU$273 million for the mineral sands business and AU$877 million non-recourse net debt for the rare earths business.The company's shares rose around 6% in recent Tuesday trade.

Iluka Resources Posts Lower Q2 Zircon, Rutile, Synthetic Rutile Production

Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) reported zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production of 58,000 tonnes and sales of 157,000 tonnes for the second quarter ended June 30, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.The company reported zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production of 149,700 tonnes and sales of 132,700 tonnes in the same period last year.The company said that expected full year final product volumes from Balranald operations are now lower than were included in group zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production guidance as provided in February, as full year zircon production volumes are in line with guidance of 180,000 tonnes, but now a more even split between sand and zircon-in-concentrate.Iluka expects full-year mineral sands capital expenditure to be about AU$115 million and first half underlying mineral sands earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization to be about AU$40 million, with a net loss after tax of about AU$25 million, subject to review.As of June 30, net debt was AU$273 million for the mineral sands business and AU$877 million non-recourse net debt for the rare earths business.

Iluka Resources Enters Long-Term Rare Earth Supply Deal With VHM

Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) entered into an agreement with VHM (ASX:VHM) to take the entire planned output of rare earth concentrate from the Goschen deposit in western Victoria under a long-term supply arrangement, according to a Thursday filing with the Australian bourse.VHM will supply around 146,000 tonnes of concentrate over an 18-year period, containing about 86,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides, averaging roughly 8,320 tonnes of concentrate and 4,900 tonnes of rare earth oxides per year, which will feed Iluka's Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia, per the filing.The Eneabba refinery will convert these feedstocks into separated light and heavy rare earth products, with prices tied to the company's actual realized product sales.The agreement also grants Iluka the first right of refusal on any additional production from Goschen, as well as from VHM's earlier-stage Cannie and Nowie projects, the filing said.Iluka will support development by investing AU$40 million through a secured convertible note, issued in two tranches linked to project milestones, the filing added.

ASX Biggest Gainers

Here are the ASX-listed companies with the biggest gains on Wednesday.Wisetech Global (ASX:WTC): +13%, AU$32.51BCI Minerals (ASX:BCI): +11%, AU$0.42Anteris Technologies (ASX:AVR): +10%, AU$14.99Xero (ASX:XRO): +8%, AU$70.31Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX): +7%, AU$15.54Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU): +5%, AU$12.99Tasmea (ASX:TEA): +5%, AU$9.45Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN): +5%, AU$0.92Regis Healthcare (ASX:REG): +4%, AU$6.53Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU): +4%, AU$7.54

Australian Shares Fall; Iluka Resources to Supply Magnet Rare Earth Oxides to Automotive Firm

Australian shares closed lower on Tuesday as Asian markets followed Monday's Wall Street sell-off.The S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.33%, or 29.10 points, to close at 8,787.On Monday, the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.3%, the S&P 500 lost 0.4%, while the Dow Jones managed to add 0.3%.The US waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days from Monday following the first talks under a nascent peace deal, Reuters reported Monday."These are far ​from dull markets. The former generals of the market ​appear to have lost momentum, and investors are rotating into other areas of the market that are more defensive, less AI-focused and offer more predictable cash flows," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group, as quoted by Reuters.In domestic news, Australian consumer confidence rose 2.1 points in the week of June 15 to 21 to 72.8 points, its highest level since early March, according to a note from ANZ.Also, rising interest rates and recent tax changes threaten a more pronounced correction for Australia's housing markets, where conditions have already been slowing amid a challenging and uncertain outlook, Westpac said in its Housing Pulse report.Further, more than four in 10 Australian small and medium businesses are using artificial intelligence tools, and a further 14% are planning to adopt them, with property services, finance and insurance, and business services sectors leading adoption, according to a report by National Australia Bank.Meanwhile, Australia's private sector activity edged closer to stabilization in June, but persistent declines in new orders and the weakest business confidence since the pandemic reflected lingering demand-side weakness despite easing inflationary pressures, according to a survey by S&P Global.In company news, Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) struck a binding agreement to supply magnet rare earth oxides, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, to an unnamed automotive company.WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) denied awareness of any investigation linked to Executive Chair Richard White following media reports concerning a visa application, saying the matter relates to him personally and not the company.Lastly, Viva Energy Group (ASX:VEA) completed works to restart the residue catalytic cracking unit at the Geelong Refinery in Victoria.

Update: Iluka Resources to Supply Magnet Rare Earth Oxides to Automotive Firm; Confirms Access to Nearly AU$2 Billion Government Loan; Shares Fall 3%

(Updates with the stock movement in the headline and the last paragraph)Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) struck a binding agreement to supply magnet rare earth oxides including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium to an unnamed automotive company, according to a Monday statement filed with the Australian bourse on Tuesday.The take-or-pay offtake agreement starts in 2028 for an initial term of four years, and represents about 10% of Iluka's planned production over that period, or 1,200 tonnes of magnet rare earth oxides.The company said it expects revenue over the contract period to range from $155 million to $172 million, with pricing set at the higher of minimum and market-linked prices for each product "to balance the dual risks of downside price volatility and security of supply."In a separate statement, Iluka said Export Finance Australia confirmed the company's access to the full AU$1.65 billion non-recourse loan provided by the Australian government to construct the Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.The refinery is over 50% complete, and Iluka expects the first tranche of the funding in the amount of AU$1.25 billion to be fully drawn at the end of the year, at which point the refinery is expected to be 75% complete.The refinery's commissioning is scheduled for mid-2027, and Civmec (ASX:CVL) has been awarded a contract for structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation works at the site.Shares of Iluka Resources fell 3% in recent Tuesday activity.

Iluka Resources to Supply Magnet Rare Earth Oxides to Automotive Firm; Confirms Access to Nearly AU$2 Billion Government Loan

Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) struck a binding agreement to supply magnet rare earth oxides including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium to an unnamed automotive company, according to a Monday statement filed with the Australian bourse on Tuesday.The take-or-pay offtake agreement starts in 2028 for an initial term of four years, and represents about 10% of Iluka's planned production over that period, or 1,200 tonnes of magnet rare earth oxides.The company said it expects revenue over the contract period to range from $155 million to $172 million, with pricing set at the higher of minimum and market-linked prices for each product "to balance the dual risks of downside price volatility and security of supply."In a separate statement, Iluka said Export Finance Australia confirmed the company's access to the full AU$1.65 billion non-recourse loan provided by the Australian government to construct the Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.The refinery is over 50% complete, and Iluka expects the first tranche of the funding in the amount of AU$1.25 billion to be fully drawn at the end of the year, at which point the refinery is expected to be 75% complete.The refinery's commissioning is scheduled for mid-2027, and Civmec (ASX:CVL) has been awarded a contract for structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation works at the site.

Civmec's Recent Contract Awards Represent 'Solid Work in Hand Position' Heading Into Fiscal 2027, Euroz Hartleys Says

Civmec's (ASX:CVL) recent contract awards increased the company's order book to a record AU$1.5 billion, representing a "solid work in hand position" and potentially setting the company up for more than AU$1 billion of revenue in fiscal 2027, Euroz Hartleys said in a Friday note.The awards include a number of panel agreement extensions, new orders across maintenance, a major construction contract for the Perth Park, as well as work at Iluka Resources' (ASX:ILU) Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.Euroz Hartleys increased its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast for the company to AU$880 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) estimate to AU$101 million. For fiscal 2027, it raised the revenue forecast to about AU$1.02 billion and EBITDA outlook to AU$111 million."In our view the combination of this increased operating cadence and enhanced revenue visibility provides greater confidence in the earnings trajectory into [fiscal 2027] and underpins our upgraded forecasts," the equity research firm said.Euroz Hartleys maintained a buy recommendation on Civmec while upgrading the price target to AU$2.37 from AU$1.67.

Civmec Lifts Order Book to AU$1.5 Billion on Contract Awards

Civmec (ASX:CVL) said it has secured a series of new contract awards, panel extensions and orders across its resources, infrastructure, energy and maintenance divisions, lifting its order book to a record AU$1.5 billion, according to a Friday filing with the Australian bourse.Major contract awards include a structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation installation package at Iluka Resources' (ASX:ILU) Eneabba Rare Earths Refinery in Western Australia, expanding the company's scope and supporting commissioning in mid-2027, per the filing.The company has also secured its portion of the alliance contract to deliver the Perth Park entertainment and sporting precinct on the Burswood Peninsula, with completion anticipated in late 2027, the filing said.The company also secured additional maintenance and manufacturing contracts and panel extensions across lithium, rare earths, iron ore, coal, alumina, hydrocarbons, and other critical minerals, with increased early contractor involvement activity strengthening its forward pipeline and regional facility utilization, the filing added.

Ord Minnett Upgrades Iluka Resources to Hold from Sell; Price Target is AU$8

Iluka Resources Reports Lower Production, Revenue for Q1

Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) reported first-quarter zircon, rutile, and synthetic rutile production of 47,600 tonnes, down nearly 64% from 130,700 tonnes a year earlier, according to a Wednesday filing with the Australian bourse.The decline comes as the company's Cataby mine in Western Australia is idled and not producing heavy mineral concentrate, including no production of zircon or rutile, per the filing.Additionally, Iluka Resources reported mineral sands revenue of AU$147 million for the March quarter, down from AU$260 million in the year-ago period. The company said the Middle East conflict has reinforced cautious business sentiment across its end markets, and the greater uncertainty has impacted customer purchasing activity.