S&P/ASX 200 slips as oil falls 7% in worst day since September

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) has dropped for a third successive session on Friday with the index down 0.31% to 6,725 by about 1.37 pm. The energy sector was leading the declines after global oil prices slumped about 7% in overnight trade on concerns over short-term demand as COVID-19 cases rise and the vaccine rollout slowed in many parts of the world. Australian producers like Woodside (ASX:WPL) and Santos (ASX:STO) were down 2.33% and 2.11% each. Air passenger traffic Sydney Airport’s (ASX:SYD) February passenger traffic figures showed that international passenger numbers were 97.5% lower on the same time last year, 27,000 compared to 1.1 million. While the 596,000 domestic passengers were still down 70% on the same time last year, it has improved as all interstate borders were opened by late February. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) (+18.52%), Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) (+11.44%), Golden Rim Resources Ltd. (ASX:GMR) (+12.50%), Kinetiko Energy Ltd (ASX:KKO) (+13.64%), Valor Resources Ltd (ASX:VAL) (+12.50%) and Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR) (+8.57%). Proactive news headlines: Comet Resources to enhance portfolio by acquiring prospective copper-gold and base metals assets in NT Comet Resources Limited (ASX:CRL) has entered into a Binding Option Agreement with Bath Resources Pty Ltd to acquire a portfolio of highly prospective copper-gold-zinc-silver-lead assets in the Northern Territory. Venture Minerals begins installing Wet Screening Plant at Riley Iron Ore Mine and strengthens team Venture Minerals Ltd (ASX:VMS) (OTCMKTS:VTMLF) has started installing structural, mechanical, piping and electrical aspects of the Wet Screening Plant at Riley Iron Ore Mine in northwest Tasmania with Crisp Bros & Haywards doing the first of the structural steel framework. Pharmaxis unveils commercial launch of Bronchitol® (mannitol) as add‐on maintenance therapy for cystic fibrosis in the US Pharmaxis Ltd’s (ASX:PXS) (OTCMKTS:PXSLY) (FRA:UUD) exclusive US distributor, Chiesi USA Inc, has launched Bronchitol®  (mannitol), an add‐on maintenance therapy to improve pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF)  patients aged 18 years and older in the US. Musgrave Minerals red-hot on further high-grade gold from White Heat Prospect within Cue Project, highlighting discovery potential Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) (OTCMKTS:MGVMF) (FRA:6MU) is higher after receiving further high-grade reverse circulation (RC) gold assay results from the new White Heat prospect, 300 metres south of Break of Day on its 100%-owned ground at its flagship Cue Gold Project in WA’s Murchison district. Kin Mining's thick high-grade gold results confirm quality of Bruno-Lewis deposit ahead of resource upgrade Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) (FRA:8KM) has received further strong gold results from recent infill reverse circulation (RC) drilling which confirm the quality and potential of the Bruno-Lewis deposit at the company’s Cardinia Gold Project (CGP) in Western Australia. Triangle Energy gears up to explore expanded footprint in Perth Basin Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd (ASX:TEG) is aggressively pursuing a three-pronged approach to exploration for 2021 and beyond across its producing Cliff Head Project, Mount Horner Project and new offshore licence WA-481-P all within the Perth Basin. Firefinch celebrates International Women’s Day at Morila Gold Mine in Mali Firefinch Ltd (ASX:FFX) (OTCMKTS:EEYMF) (FRA:N9F) recently celebrated International Women’s Day at the Morila Gold Mine site in Mali, West Africa, with a ceremony chaired by the Sub Prefect of Sanso in the presence of Sanso Mayor, Morila representatives, village chiefs, women and youth representatives kicking the event off.