S&P/ASX 200 keeps head above water as mining and health stocks trade higher

S&P/ASX 200 keeps head above water as mining and health stocks trade higher

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S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is marginally up 0.08% to 5933 points at 12.30 pm as financial and consumer discretionary sectors suffered losses but mining and health stocks helped the index keep its head above water. Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX:FMG) (+1.84%), BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) (+1.44%) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO) (+1.13%) all gained more than 1% while National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) was down 3.28% and Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX:ANZ) dipped 3.56%. COVID-19 update Victorians are preparing for extreme new restrictions affecting businesses to be announced today, as another 429 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours. Premier Daniel Andrews has declared a state of disaster and imposed stage four restrictions, which include a daily curfew from 8pm to 5am for Melbourne residents until at least September 13. White House coronavirus task force leader Dr Deborah Birx said widespread COVID-19 infections in urban and rural America mark a “new phase” for the pandemic as she doubled down on calls to wear face masks and observe social distancing measures. Birx said on CNN: “What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread.” The US has the world’s biggest number of COVID-19 cases at 4.6 million, or one-quarter of the total, and 154,361 deaths. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI) (+15.15%), Engage:BDR Ltd (ASX:EN1) (+14.29%), Highfield Resources Ltd (ASX:HFR) (+7.50%), Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) (+4.88%) and Cipherpoint Ltd (ASX:CPT) (+7.69%). Proactive news headlines: Archer Materials advances Republic of Korea patent application for 12CQ technology Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) is advancing its Republic of Korea patent application for 12CQ quantum computing chip technology IP with the bid now undergoing substantive examination procedures. FYI Resources higher on completing successful second high purity alumina production trial FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI) has been as much as 28% higher after completing stage two production of high purity alumina (HPA) from its pilot plant facility in Welshpool, Western Australia. Brookside Energy embarks on $1.555 million capital raising in stabilising oil & gas environment Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) has embarked on a capital raising exercise and intends to raise up to approximately $1,255,625 in a non-renounceable pro-rata entitlement offer and up to $300,000 in an options offer. Element 25 further de-risks Butcherbird Manganese Project as tests confirm process water supply Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has completed pump testing of a water production bore within a shallow (6-16 metre depth) aquifer at the Butcherbird Manganese Project in WA, confirming sufficient process water supply for planned production. Emerald Clinics hits record number of patients; joins global fight against COVID-19 Emerald Clinics Ltd (ASX:EMD) continued to make progress against its IPO goals, finishing its June 2020 quarter with record appointment volumes and the expansion of its Real World Evidence technology platform beyond cannabinoids. Matador Mining focuses on expanding Cape Ray Gold Project resource base Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ) is focused on expanding the resource base and life-of-mine at its Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada as the June quarter comes to a close.

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