S&P/ASX 200 gains 0.23% and on track for fifth straight monthly advance

S&P/ASX 200 gains 0.23% and on track for fifth straight monthly advance

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S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) recovered from a soft star and is up 0.23% thanks to gains from the energy, real estate and IT sectors. The biggest mover is the energy sector, up 2% with gains in oil companies like Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL), up 2.25%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO), up 3.47% and Oil Search (ASX:OSH), up 4.14%. The oil companies gained as oil prices nudged up today, with Brent futures set to post a fifth straight monthly gain, as global stimulus measures underpin prices even as demand struggles to return to pre-COVID levels in a well-supplied market. Cyber-attack against NZX New Zealand’s stock exchange managed to keep trading today even as operator NZX’s website crashed again in what appears to be a resumption of cyber-attacks that crippled the market last week. NZX.com was down for much of the morning, preventing many investors from seeing company announcements and prices, but trading has continued since the 10 am open. The NZX has been advised by independent cyber specialists that the attacks last week are “among the largest, most well-resourced and sophisticated they have ever seen in New Zealand.” COVID-19 update Sydney has been put on alert with a series of virus warnings after New South Wales recorded 10 new COVID-19 cases overnight. In Victoria, there have been 41 deaths and 73 new cases in the past 24 hours. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he “can’t rule out” stage four restrictions being extended for Melbourne beyond the September 13 end date. The plan to ease the state’s tough COVID-19 restrictions will be unveiled on Sunday. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Roots Sustainable Agricultural Techn Ltd (ASX:ROO) (+24.00%), Blue Star Helium Ltd (ASX:BNL) (+9.52%), Cirralto Ltd (ASX:CRO) (+9.52%), Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) (+18.18%), Calima Energy Ltd (ASX:CE1) (+11.11%), Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) (+50.00%) and Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) (10.87%). Proactive news headlines: Pan Asia Metals extends IPO till Monday following strong support from investors Pan Asia Metals Ltd (ASX:PAM) has received applications from investors for its initial public offer (IPO) exceeding the minimum subscription requirement of $4 million. Australian Vanadium higher as mining lease milestone takes flagship project closer to development Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL) has been granted a Mining Lease for its flagship vanadium project for an initial 21 years, marking a key milestone in the path towards development. Nexus Minerals starts diamond drilling at Pinnacles JV Gold Project Nexus Minerals Ltd (ASX:NXM) has started diamond drilling at the Pinnacles JV Gold Project in Western Australia as a part of feasibility study work. Mali Lithium will instantly transform to gold producer through acquiring 80% of Morila Gold Mine in Mali Mali Lithium Ltd (ASX:MLL) (FRA:N9F) has surged 36% on a transformational acquisition that will see it become a gold producer after securing an 80% interest in the operating Morila Gold Mine in southwest Mali from Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) and AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU) for US$22-27 million. Element 25 continues fast-tracking Butcherbird Manganese Project with key permit applications submitted Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) continues to fast-track the manganese concentrate export operation at Butcherbird Manganese Project in Western Australia on time and budget with key permitting applications lodged. Anteris Technologies' operations advancing as scheduled; highly positive on DurAVR™ valve capabilities Anteris Technologies Ltd’s (ASX:AVR) (FRA:DDF) (OTCMKTS:AMEUF) operations are advancing largely as scheduled, with the company highly positive on the DurAVR™ valve studies. Aeris Resources enhances Cracow with shallow gold intersected at Roses Pride deposit Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) has intersected high-grade gold mineralisation in shallow reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Roses Pride deposit, part of the wider Cracow Gold Project in Queensland. Lithium Australia's JV gets Clean Energy Council green light for battery storage system Lithium Australia NL’s (ASX:LIT) Soluna Australia 50:50 joint venture with DLG Energy (Shanghai) Co Ltd has passed a key milestone by receiving Clean Energy Council approval for its three-phase battery system. Castillo Copper selects Depco Drilling as lead contractor for Mt Oxide Pillar campaign Castillo Copper Limited (ASX:CCZ) (LON:CCZ) has taken another key step towards its goal of becoming a mid-tier copper producer by appointing a lead contractor for upcoming drilling at two high-priority targets within the Mt Oxide Project in Queensland.

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