S&P/ASX 200 in the green as gold price hits all-time record high of US$1943.93 per ounce

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is up 0.11% at 12.23 pm driven higher by gold miners after the precious metal broke through US$1900 per ounce for the first time since 2011. Renewed US-China trade tensions and COVID-19 anxiety have boosted the allure of the safe-haven asset. Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) and Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (ASX:SAR) each gained between 3.35% and 5.52%. COVID-19 update In the US, more than 1,000 people died every day for four straight days last week due to COVID-19. That brings the total US death toll from the virus to more than 146,000 as of Sunday. With overwhelmed hospitals and delays in testing, some local leaders, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, said a second stay-at-home order might be possible. Victoria recorded its biggest case spike today, with 532 cases added to its tally — the worst new cases total recorded anywhere in the nation since the pandemic began. However, Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said today should be the peak of Victoria’s second wave. He added “Modelling with our effective reproductive number that I have seen most recently suggests that today should be the peak. “Now I’m not going to sit back and say today is the peak. We have to see what happens in coming days.” Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include 9 Spokes International Ltd (ASX:9SP) (20.59%), VIP Gloves Ltd (ASX:VIP), Archtis Ltd (ASX:AR9) (+14.29%), Alto Metals Ltd (ASX:AME) (+28.17%), Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX:NTU) (+10.00%) and Oakdale Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (+33.33%). Proactive news headlines: MGC Pharmaceuticals receives promising safety and toxicity study results for ArtemiC MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:MXC) is encouraged by results from a safety and toxicity study completed on mice for AtemiC, showing no clinical signs or adverse reactions from the full panel of hematology and chemistry blood tests. Great Western plans work program after consolidating Golden Corridor Project, shares up Great Western Exploration Limited (ASX:GTE) has consolidated 60 kilometres of strike within its highly prospective Golden Corridor Project in WA and is planning an exploration program to include drilling. Pure Minerals to work with Sun Metals towards joint hematite product development Pure Minerals Ltd (ASX:PM1) (FRA:4EA) subsidiary Queensland Pacific Metals Pty Ltd (QPM) has entered an MOU with Sun Metals Corporation Pty Ltd to investigate the potential to produce a joint iron oxide product in Townsville, Queensland. Cardinal Resources recommends revised A$0.70 offer from Shandong Gold Cardinal Resources Ltd’s (ASX:CDV) (TSE:CDV) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF) board of directors has unanimously recommended that shareholders accept the revised A$0.70 off-market takeover offer from Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co Limited. Wiluna Mining hits more high-grade gold at Wiluna, supporting expansion plans Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd (ASX:WMX) has received more high-grade gold results from resource development and infill drilling at the Wiluna, Regent and Lake Way mining centres of its Wiluna Mining Operation in Western Australia. Galileo Mining begins new drilling program at Fraser Range nickel project Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) has started reverse circulation (RC) drilling highly prospective nickel targets at Lantern Nickel Project within the Fraser Range nickel belt in Western Australia.