ASX stocks soar: New World Resources rockets 68%, Hutchison up 52%—What’s driving the rally?

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) witnessed a strong upswing in select small-cap and micro-cap counters on Thursday, 22 May 2025, with the day’s biggest percentage gainers concentrated in basic materials, energy, and speculative technology. The rally appeared largely retail-driven, with renewed speculative interest in lithium, rare earths, and AI-adjacent tech sectors. Market-wide volumes remained modest but improved over the previous two sessions.

Investor sentiment was cautiously optimistic amid stabilising commodity prices and a muted macro backdrop. The Australian dollar hovered around US$0.662, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices steadied near US$79 per barrel, aiding energy-related counters. Meanwhile, dovish commentary from U.S. Federal Reserve members overnight lent support to growth stocks globally, including tech microcaps on the ASX.

Why Did New World Resources Ltd (ASX:NWC) Surge 68%?

New World Resources Ltd led the ASX with an eye-catching 67.86% jump to 4.7 cents, backed by an unusually high turnover of $8.2 million. The rally likely reflects speculative positioning ahead of expected drilling updates at its Antler Copper Project in Arizona. With copper prices stabilising around US$4.77/lb and global supply tightening, retail enthusiasm around juniors with U.S.-based assets has resurged. NWC’s market cap rose to $166.4 million, recouping recent losses and turning positive for the year with a 14.63% YTD return.

Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd (ASX:HTA) Rallies 52% on Low Volume

HTA surged 52.38% to 3.2 cents despite a turnover of just $19,390, indicating a low-float price spike potentially tied to renewed corporate action rumours. HTA remains a speculative play with long-term exposure to TPG Telecom through its JV structure. With a market cap of $434.32 million and minimal operational updates, the move appears sentiment-driven rather than fundamentals-based.

Canadian Phosphate Ltd (ASX:CP8) Climbs 45% as Fertiliser Interest Grows

Canadian Phosphate Ltd gained 45% to close at 2.9 cents on light turnover. While no fresh news has emerged, increased interest in phosphate and fertiliser minerals amid geopolitical food security concerns may be fuelling the speculative action. CP8, which is capitalised at just $8.9 million, remains a thinly traded microcap with exposure to phosphate exploration.

Podium Minerals Ltd (ASX:POD) Jumps 40% Despite Weak Sector Trends

Podium Minerals rose 40% to 3.5 cents even as PGM and rare earth markets remain subdued. The stock attracted $101,322 in trade and now holds a market value of $23.85 million. With no immediate announcements, the move may reflect a technical rebound from oversold levels. POD remains down 25.11% over the past year.

D3 Energy Ltd (ASX:D3E) Gains 28% on Bargain Hunting in Junior Energy

Shares of D3 Energy added 28.33% to trade at 7.7 cents. The company’s total market cap remains modest at $6.12 million, and trading volumes were thin. D3E’s projects in carbon storage and geothermal exploration have yet to achieve commercial scale, but the uptick likely reflects bottom-fishing interest among retail traders.

Thunderbird Resources Ltd (ASX:THB) Up 27% on Junior Mining Revival

Thunderbird Resources added 27.27% to hit 1.4 cents, extending its recovery from multi-year lows. The basic materials junior, with a $5.18 million market cap, may be benefiting from improved sentiment toward underperforming small-cap explorers. However, no operational news was released to justify the move.

Far Northern Resources Ltd (ASX:FNR) Surges 25% on Renewed Speculative Activity

FNR rallied 25% to 15 cents with moderate turnover. With a market capitalisation of $6.04 million and a modest YTD decline of 9.09%, today’s bounce likely reflects risk-on appetite among microcap traders rather than a shift in company fundamentals.

Tasman Resources Ltd (ASX:TAS) Recovers 25% in Thin Trade

Tasman Resources also gained 25% to 2 cents despite generating less than $600 in turnover. With a market cap below $4 million and a negative 1-year return of 20%, TAS remains a high-risk speculative play in the junior resources sector.

SKS Technologies Group Ltd (ASX:SKS) Extends Multi-Month Rally

SKS continued its upward momentum, climbing 21.90% to $1.87 on solid turnover of $1.47 million. With a market cap exceeding $210 million, the stock has now gained 134.59% over the past year, driven by sustained investor interest in industrial automation and tech-integrated infrastructure solutions.

Globe Metals & Mining Ltd (ASX:GBE) Rallies 21% Despite Weak Rare Earth Sentiment

GBE gained 20.83% to reach 2.9 cents on low volume. As a Malawi-focused rare earth and niobium explorer, Globe may be experiencing speculative inflows linked to African resource themes. The company’s shares remain down 55.39% year-on-year.

Adisyn Ltd (ASX:AI1) Jumps 19% on AI Trend Momentum

Adisyn Ltd advanced 19.30% to 6.8 cents amid broader interest in AI-adjacent and digital infrastructure companies. With a YTD return of 240% and a market cap of $49.17 million, AI1 has become a retail favourite among speculative tech traders despite limited revenue disclosures.

Omega Oil & Gas Ltd (ASX:OMA) Climbs 19% Amid Gas Sector Support

OMA rose 19.05% to 25 cents on nearly $200,000 in trades. Backed by improving gas price dynamics and investor interest in domestic energy supply chains, the company’s $85.78 million market cap positions it as a mid-tier speculative energy stock with room for institutional re-rating.

Hawsons Iron Ltd (ASX:HIO) Recovers 18.5% After Prolonged Weakness

HIO bounced 18.52% to 1.6 cents, recovering from oversold territory. The company, which focuses on magnetite iron ore development, has seen shares fall 46.67% over the past year. Today’s uptick comes amid broader support for steel-linked commodities.

Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) Extends Gold Rally with 18% Rise

AUN gained 18.18% to 7.8 cents as gold explorers staged a mild recovery. With a market cap of $38.55 million and an 85.71% one-year return, Aurumin is among the better-performing junior gold stocks in 2025. Investor focus remains on its Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia.

White Energy Company Ltd (ASX:WEC) Rises 17.9% on Inactive Trade

WEC jumped 17.86% to 3.3 cents, though only one trade was recorded. The company, which previously focused on coal upgrading technologies, remains largely dormant, with no current revenue-generating operations.

ADX Energy Ltd (ASX:ADX) Up 16.67% on Mediterranean Oil Hopes

ADX Energy rose to 3.5 cents on 16.67% gains. The company’s presence in onshore Austria and offshore Italy continues to attract interest as European energy security remains a long-term theme. Its $20.16 million market cap remains modest despite geopolitical tailwinds.

Oceana Lithium Ltd (ASX:OCN) Adds 16.67% on Battery Metals Speculation

OCN climbed to 6.3 cents, buoyed by sentiment around lithium and battery metal stocks. The company’s projects in Brazil and Australia remain at an early stage, but retail investors are keenly watching for permitting updates.

Altamin Ltd (ASX:AZI) and Newpeak Metals Ltd (ASX:NPM) Post Double-Digit Gains

AZI advanced 15.39% to 3 cents, continuing a recovery trend. Similarly, NPM rose 15.39% to 1.5 cents, despite minimal trade. Both companies remain small-cap resource explorers with unclear near-term catalysts.

Rent.com.Au Ltd (ASX:RNT) Gains 15% as Property Portal Interest Returns

RNT ended the session up 15% at 2.3 cents, with modest turnover. As a niche property rental platform, the stock occasionally sees speculative flows, particularly when sectoral attention shifts to proptech or housing affordability themes.

Today’s ASX top gainers list reflects a distinctly speculative tone, with microcap miners and junior tech firms dominating. While turnover was mixed, select names like New World Resources, SKS Technologies, and Adisyn Ltd demonstrated meaningful investor engagement. Institutional participation remains limited in most cases, but improving commodity sentiment and AI-linked momentum continue to draw retail flows.

The broader market remains range-bound, but these speculative surges suggest pockets of risk appetite returning. Investors should remain cautious of the volatility inherent in low-liquidity microcaps, especially amid a still-fragile global economic backdrop. The sustainability of these gains may hinge on actual project developments, drilling results, or tangible earnings progress in the coming weeks.