S&P/ASX 200 down 1% on sharp fall in mining and health heavyweights

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) fell 1.04% by 12.53 pm to 6092 with the heavyweight miners and health stocks the biggest drag. Losses for CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) (-3.40%) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) (-3.40%) are holding back the market most. In fact, they are contributing to almost half the market's decline. COVID-19 update NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there are 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the state in the last 24 hours. She requested people to avoid crowds on the weekend and warned gatherings in homes and hospitality venues were the most risky. Victoria has hit a massive new COVID-19 record, with 484 new cases recorded in 24 hours, The Australian reports. Retail sales rise The Australian Bureau of Statistics said retail sales lifted by 2.4% in June, with the re-opening of cafes and worried shoppers back stockpiling toilet paper and flour contributing to the gain. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL) (+11.32%), Engage:BDR Ltd (ASX:EN1) (+14.29%), Kingwest Resources Ltd (ASX:KWR) (+15.38%), Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) (+14.29%) and Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) (+100.00%). Proactive news headlines: De Grey Mining grows scale of Hemi gold discovery with Aquila extensions De Grey Mining Ltd (ASX:DEG) continues to increase the overall dimensions of the Hemi gold discovery near Port Hedland in Western Australia with recent drilling extending the Aquila zone at depth and along strike. Whitebark Energy's Rex-3 Well at Wizard Lake running strongly after pump installed Whitebark Energy Ltd's (ASX:WBE) Rex-3 Well at the Wizard Lake Oilfield in Canada is flowing strongly after installation of a new bottom hole pump. Latin Resources at “most exciting point in its history” says chairman Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) (FRA:XL5) is making a major turning point into the strong gold sector, via the acquisition of the highly prospective Yarara Gold Project in the Lachlan Fold belt of NSW, a proven gold region where multiple companies are reporting strong gold exploration results. Arafura Resources passes key milestone at Nolans Nd-Pr Project with mineral leases granted Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) has jumped the final regulatory hurdle for the Nolans Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) Project in the Northern Territory with the granting of mineral leases (MLs) by the NT Government. Corazon Mining prepares to resume drilling at Lynn Lake Nickel Project in Canada Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) is preparing to recommence drilling by the end of this month at Lynn Lake Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Sulphide Project in Manitoba Province of Canada.