S&P/ASX hits seven-month high following another improvement on Wall Street

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is in the green for a seventh consecutive session with the index higher by 59 points or 0.96% to 6,191 at 1.07 pm. The gains on the local index followed another improvement on Wall Street with the major US indices surging on Monday. Highest level since March Notably, the ASX200 rose by as much as 1.2% earlier in the day to rise above 6200 and hit a new seven-month intra-day high. The local tech sector is leading the gains with a 1.93% rise while the financials are following closely with a 1.87% increase. ANZ Bank (ASX:ANZ) was 2.7% higher while Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) increased 1.3%. Telstra also surged, adding 3.24%, while Afterpay jumped 4.4% to hit a new record high of $96.08. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include MMJ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:MMJ) (+30.43%), Engage:BDR Ltd (ASX:EN1) (+16.67%), Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) (+13.64%), Apollo Minerals Limited. (ASX:AON) (+29.73%), Buru Energy Limited (ASX:BRU) (+13.58%), Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD) (+13.33%) and Boadicea Resources Ltd (ASX:BOA) (+25.81%). Proactive news headlines: FYI Resources boosts cash balance with research and development tax incentive rebate FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI) (FRA:SDL) has boosted its cash balance after receiving a research and development (R&D) tax incentive rebate payment of $924,564 for the 2019/2020 financial year. King River Resources continues to enhance Kimberley-focused PFS for Speewah Specialty Metals Project King River Resources Ltd (ASX:KRR) continues to enhance a pre-feasibility study (PFS) assessing the production of high-purity alumina (HPA) from Speewah Specialty Metals Project in the Eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia. Comet Resources' Santa Teresa Gold Project hosts maiden resource of 88,600 ounces at 7.47 g/t Comet Resources Limited (ASX:CRL) has revealed a maiden 88,600-ounce JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate for Santa Teresa High-Grade Gold Project in Baja California, Mexico. Auroch Minerals DHEM survey identifies priority drill target at Valdez nickel prospect Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) has detected a strong off-hole conductor coincident with the base of the modelled channel after completing down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys on reverse circulation (RC) drill holes at Valdez prospect, which is part of the Leinster Nickel Project in Western Australia. Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals adds three new senior executives to its team Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:PAR) has strengthened its team through three new senior executive appointments with commercial head Beverley Huttmann, chief financial officer Justin Cahill and R&D scientist Catherine Stapledon joining the company. Predictive Discovery hits up to 92 metres at 1.9 g/t gold in diamond drilling at expanding Bankan project Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX:PDI) has hit up to 92 metres at 1.9 g/t gold in diamond drilling at the flagship Bankan Project in Guinea, demonstrating a large gold mineralised body which may contribute to a planned mineral resource estimate in mid-2021. American Rare Earths transforming to developer with world-class La Paz Rare Earth Project American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR) is focused on transforming from explorer to developer with its world-class La Paz Rare Earth Project in Arizona, USA, as the sector continues to evolve and domestic supply is prioritised in the US. Marvel Gold focused on growth potential of West African gold projects in FY21 Marvel Gold Ltd (ASX:MVL) is confident of the potential of its advanced exploration projects in West Africa, with the recent release of the JORC mineral resource estimate for Tabakorole Gold Project and a 3,800 metre systematic drilling program underway at Lakanfla Gold Project. Marquee Resources starts aggressive exploration push at new gold and nickel project Marquee Resources Ltd (ASX:MQR) has delineated a number of high-priority gold and nickel targets for drilling at the recently acquired West Spargoville Project in Western Australia’s goldfields region.