The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index (AXS: XSO) ended Friday at 3,147.90 points, down 23.50 points or 0.74%.
Despite the weaker session, the small-cap benchmark remained higher over the week, gaining 92.50 points or 3.03% across the past five trading days.
We expect a quiet styart to the week ahead of a potential rate rise and the Melbourne Cup "long weekend", however, company-specific developments continue to drive activity across the small-cap market, with NewPeak Metals completing drilling in Argentina, Orthocell reporting record US sales and Anteris Technologies releasing encouraging heart valve data.
NewPeak completes Las Opeñas drilling
NewPeak Metals Ltd ( ASX:NPM , OTC:NPMFF , FRA:NPM ) has completed Phase 2 diamond drilling at its 100%-owned Las Opeñas Gold Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.
The program tested the western extension of gold-dominant mineralisation identified in Phase 1 drilling, targeting the interpreted higher-grade core closer to the Belleza Breccia volcanic centre.
Geological logging, core photography and multi-element geochemistry are continuing alongside sample preparation and delivery as NewPeak refines its interpretation of the mineralised system.
Orthocell posts record US Remplir sales
Orthocell Ltd ( ASX:OCC , OTC:ORHHF) recorded its strongest month of US sales for nerve repair product Remplir™, selling 92 units in October and generating A$279,000 in revenue.
The result was 84% above the average monthly sales rate of 50 units during the first quarter of FY27.
Orthocell said the uplift reflected growing surgeon adoption, repeat utilisation, broader hospital access and expansion of its active distributor network across key US markets.
Anteris reports positive DurAVR data
Anteris Technologies Pty Ltd ( ASX:AVR , NASDAQ:AVR ) has reported positive 30-day clinical and haemodynamic results for its medium-sized DurAVR® Transcatheter Heart Valve in 22 severe aortic stenosis patients.
The valve delivered a mean effective orifice area of 2.64 square centimetres and a mean pressure gradient of 6.17 mmHg, compared with 0.8 square centimetres and 45.5 mmHg respectively at baseline.
There was no valve-related mortality, no moderate or severe paravalvular leak and no moderate or severe prosthesis-patient mismatch at 30 days.
The data, from the EMBARK Study, were presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Conference in San Diego.
