S&P/ASX 200 dips as Victoria’s lockdown gets extended

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) was trading 0.82% lower at 7288 points by about 12.50 pm as Victoria’s lockdown was extended as the state grapples with the Delta variant of COVID-19. Premier Daniel Andrews said that ending the lockdown would not be the right thing to do. He added: “It would be, perhaps, a few days of sunshine, and then a very high chance we would be back in lockdown again, that is what I’m trying to avoid, we are trying to do this properly and bring the cases to an end.” Tech, mining shares fall Altium (ASX:ALU) shares tumbled 10% following speculation that US giant Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) walked away from a $5 billion takeover bid. Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) slipped 7.7% on several broker downgrades and price target cuts after the company advised it missed gold output guidance at an update last Friday. Biotech major CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) gained 1.5% to $282, while ResMed, Sonic and Cochlear were also higher. Furniture retailer Nick Scali (ASX:NCK) confirmed that it is in discussions to acquire couch and recliner seller Plush Sofas from South African-owned retail group Greenlit Brands. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) (+13.89%), Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) (+10.81%), Golden Rim Resources Ltd. (ASX:GMR) (+12.50%), Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX:PDI) (+47.37%), Rimfire Pacific Mining N L (ASX:RIM) (+12.50%), Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) (+11.11%) and Southern Gold Limited (ASX:SAU) (+7.46%). Proactive news headlines: Okapi Resources completes drilling program at Enmore Gold Project Okapi Resources Ltd (ASX:OKR) (FRA:26O) has completed an initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Enmore Gold Project in northeast NSW. Tempus Resources' metallurgical review confirms high gold recoveries in ore from Elizabeth Project in Canada Tempus Resources Ltd’s (ASX:TMR) (CVE:TMRR) (OTCMKTS:TMRFF) (FRA:4W0) consolidated metallurgical review has confirmed high gold recoveries in tests on two processing routes of ore from the Elizabeth section of the Blackdome-Elizabeth Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada. Nelson Resources raising up to $2 million to accelerate Woodline and Tempest exploration Nelson Resources Ltd (ASX:NES) has launched a Renounceable Rights Issue to raise up to $2 million to fund the completion of current drilling programs and expand exploration at its Woodline and Tempest projects in WA. ioneer locks in Water Pollution Control permit for Rhyolite Ridge Lithium Project ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) (OTCMKTS:GSCCF) (FRA:4G1) has locked in a Water Pollution Control permit for its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, marking a critical step required before construction can begin. Australian Potash pushes ahead with pre-development at Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project Australian Potash Ltd (ASX:APC) has started constructing the Lake Wells Village, an accommodation site at its flagship potash asset in Western Australia. Sovereign Metals receives strong validation of rutile project as Sprott lifts stake Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM) (FRA:SVM) has received strong validation of its strategy focused on the Kasiya Rutile Project in Malawi with substantial shareholder Sprott Inc (TSE:SII) (NYSE:SII) (FRA:A781) lifting its holding to 10.41%. Tyranna Resources to narrow-in on potential Dragon targets after completing surface soil sampling Tyranna Resources Ltd’s (ASX:TYX) (FRA:IRN) soil sampling and reconnaissance results for the Dragon Project in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region have been received across three main areas – the Southern Dyke Zone, the Sinclair Shear and the Western Shear Zone - ticking off another step in advancing the tenement. South Harz Potash secures key approval for second Ohmgebirge drill site South Harz Potash Ltd (ASX:SHP) has locked in landowner and tenant approval to execute the second of two planned confirmatory drill holes within its Ohmgebirge mining licence in Germany. Coffee with Samso: Australia's next copper mine - Nifty Copper Mine - Cyprium Metals Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX:CYM)  is now a step closer to creating a product that will ride on the EV Revolution that is on a rising tide.