S&P/ASX 200 rises even as health and technology stocks continue to lag

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) has gained 0.29% to 7,082.5 points by 12.55 pm with the major banks, mining and energy firms helping the index move higher. Health and technology stocks continued to lag, with the information technology sector declining 2.91%. Afterpay tumbles Buy now, pay later firm Afterpay (ASX:APT) continued its fall today, slipping another 7.4% to hit a new seven-month low of $92.18. The company is down 42% per cent from its February 2021 all-time high of $160.05 as investors continue to question its share price rise over the past 12 months. COVID-19 update New South Wales recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8 pm last night. India has reported over 410,000 fresh COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day on Friday, taking its cumulative caseload to 21,485,285. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Elementos Limited (ASX:ELT) (+17.65%), Highfield Resources Ltd (ASX:HFR) (+10.32%), Kinetiko Energy Ltd (ASX:KKO) (+27.27%), Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) (+16.49%), Rimfire Pacific Mining N L (ASX:RIM) (+11.11%) and Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd (ASX:TEG) (+8.33%). Proactive news headlines: Noxopharm will progress to FDA approved breakthrough testing of Veyonda in first-line sarcoma treatment Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) is trading higher after revealing that a CEP-2 study will begin shortly for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Veyonda® in first-line sarcoma treatment. Calima Energy maintains Canadian momentum as flow rates exceed estimates by 28% and production increases Calima Energy Ltd (ASX:CE1) (FRA:R1Y) is “extremely pleased” with flow rates from three horizontal Sunburst Formation operations performed by subsidiary Blackspur Oil Corp at the core Brooks area in Canada which have exceeded type curve estimates by 28%. Arafura Resources takes step towards Nolans financing with Export Finance Australia letter of support for senior debt facility up to A$200 million Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) (OTCMKTS:ARAFF) (FRA:REB) has taken a further step towards financing the Nolans Rare Earth Project in the Northern Territory after receiving a non-binding letter of support from the Australian Government’s export credit agency, Export Finance Australia (EFA). Emperor Energy “incrementally piecing together” Judith Gas Field Project in Victoria Emperor Energy Ltd (ASX:EMP) is incrementally piecing together, step by step, the Judith Gas Field Project in Victoria, according to director Phil McNamara.