S&P/ASX 200 slips as RBA holds cash rate at 0.1%; bond purchases to continue at a reduced rate

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) has slipped 0.20% to 7,300.70 points as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the official cash rate unchanged at 0.1% and said it will continue bond purchases at a slightly reduced rate. RBA governor Philip Lowe said: “The economic recovery in Australia is stronger than earlier expected and is forecast to continue. “The outlook for investment has improved and household and business balance sheets are generally in good shape.” However, the governor cautioned the RBA’s growing concern about the lift in house prices across the nation’s capital cities. Oil price hits multi-year high Energy is the top-performing sector on the ASX today, rising 1.92% following a surge in oil prices to their highest levels in almost three years. Brent crude prices jumped 1.3% to US$77.16 after OPEC+ abandoned its meeting without a deal. Locally, Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) gained 2%, while Oil Search (ASX:OSH) surged 3.9%. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) (+8.33%), Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) (+10.26%), Alicanto Minerals Ltd (ASX:AQI) (+13.79%), Arrow Minerals Ltd (ASX:AMD) (+16.67%), Cauldron Energy Ltd (ASX:CXU) (+11.43%), Nexus Minerals Ltd (ASX:NXM) (+7.69%) and Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) (+11.11%). Proactive news headlines: archTIS set sights on expanding global operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa archTIS Ltd (ASX:AR9), a global provider of innovative software solutions for the secure collaboration of sensitive information, is expanding its global presence across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) through two new initiatives. Poseidon Nickel tables one of 'best results to date' returning up to 2.1 metres at 13.79% nickel at Golden Swan Poseidon Nickel (ASX:POS) (OTCMKTS:PSDNF) (FRA:NYG) has tabled one of its best intersections to date with results from the Golden Swan trend returning up to 2.1 metres at 13.79% nickel. Cobalt Blue attracts interest for cobalt samples produced at Broken Hill Pilot Plant Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) (FRA:COH) is attracting interest from potential customers and partners as a result of the Global Cobalt Sample Program producing commercial Mixed Hydroxide Product (MHP) sourced from the Broken Hill Cobalt Project (BHCP). St George Mining's new EM conductors support Mt Alexander Nickel-Copper Sulphide Project growth potential St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) (FRA:S0G) has identified multiple electromagnetic (EM) conductors during a downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) survey at the high-grade Mt Alexander Nickel-Copper Sulphide Project in Western Australia. ioneer demonstrates confidence in executive chairman James Calaway by renewing employment contract ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) (OTCMKTS:GSCCF) (FRA:4G1) has demonstrated confidence in executive chairman James D Calaway by renewing his employment agreement for a further 12 months, effective from July 1. Aeris Resources' Constellation deposit shines brighter with new copper results up to 13 metres at 8.64% Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) (OTCMKTS:ARSRF) has received high-grade results of up to 13 metres at 8.64% copper from a further 30 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes at Constellation deposit within the Tritton tenement package in New South Wales. Marvel Gold consolidates landholding at 910,000-ounce Tabakorole Project Marvel Gold Ltd (ASX:MVL) (FRA:GR2) has consolidated its landholding at the Tabakorole Gold Project in southern Mali by acquiring new strategic tenements. Oar Resources buoyed as initial Gibraltar analysis defines new large bright-white kaolin zone Oar Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (FRA:F1S) is highly encouraged by initial test results on samples from the Gibraltar Project in South Australia’s halloysite-kaolin hotspot of the Eyre Peninsula that have defined a large zone of bright and ultra-bright white kaolinite. South Harz Potash appoints specialist driller for exploration at German project South Harz Potash Ltd (ASX:SHP) (FRA:D860) has appointed a specialist deep drilling company to execute the first of twin drill holes at its flagship Ohmgebirge Potash Project in Germany. Mako Gold further extends mineralised footprint at Tchaga within Napié Project following strong gold results Mako Gold Ltd’s (ASX:MKG) reverse circulation and diamond drilling results continue to expand the mineralised footprint at Tchaga prospect within the Napié Project in Côte d’Ivoire and will be incorporated into an upcoming maiden resource estimate. PolarX hits its stride with 3.5-kilometre silver and gold anomaly at Fourth of July in Nevada PolarX Ltd (ASX:PXX) has uncovered large silver-gold anomalies during a soil sampling program over its Fourth of July claims within the Nevada-based Humboldt Range Gold-Silver Project. Cirralto higher on signing share sale agreement to acquire Sydney-based fintech Invigo Cirralto Ltd (ASX:CRO) has signed a binding share sale agreement (SSA) to acquire 100% of the issued capital of Sydney-based fintech Invigo Pty Ltd with an expected completion date of July 12. Firefinch notches record month and quarter with gold production from 'Morila the Gorilla' Firefinch Ltd (ASX:FFX) has notched up a substantial increase in gold production from its flagship Morila Gold Mine in Mali across the past month and the June quarter.