The ASX is rising, a Berkshire billionaire discusses cryptocurrency, and will BHP benefit from rising iron ore prices?

<p>"Believe me when I say that those developing cryptocurrencies are not thinking about the customer; they are thinking about themselves," Charlie Munger asserts.</p> <p>Queensland's borders may open earlier than expected. Assuming that the borders of Victoria and NSW remain open despite Omicron, we should see a more rapid recovery in tourism.</p> <p>Queensland is expected to reach its vaccination target over the weekend, thereby opening its borders to its eastern neighbours.</p> <p>Now all that remains is for Western Australia to open its borders, which appears unlikely to occur until well into next year.</p> <p>Let's hope it occurs sooner rather than later.</p> <p>Although it is improbable that speculation about the Queensland border opening had an effect on the ASX, the market is higher in early trading today.</p> <p>The S&P/ASX200 index has gained 18.90 points or 0.26 percent to 7,244.10 so far this morning, following a new 20-day low.</p> <p>This index has lost 0.48 percent in the last five days but is up 9.97 percent year to date.</p> <p>At the time of press, the index's best-performing stocks were ALS Limited, up 3.90 percent, and Nickel Mines Limited, up 2.55.</p> <p>Despite border talks, Flight Centre was one of the morning's losers after Regal Funds Management cofounder Phil King urged investors to sell shares in the travel company at the Sohn Conference in Sydney.</p> <p>King believes Flight Centre has recovered too strongly from its 2020 low point and will have to contend with a higher volume of online travel bookings.</p> <p>TPG Telecom's shares fell more than 7% at the open, while Newcrest Mining fell 1.9 percent to $22.47.</p> <p>Among the other gainers and losers are Chalice Mining, which is up 4.4 percent, ALS, which is up 3.5 percent, and Sims, which is up 3.3 percent to $14.60.</p> <p>Consumer staples fell, led by supermarket behemoths Coles and Woolworths, which both lost more than 1%.</p> <p>Health care stocks also fell.</p> <p>The mining sector was generally stronger, with BHP