S&P/ASX 200 in the green led by health stocks; NZ suspends travel bubble

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) gained 0.11% to 7,395 by about 12.45 pm following a third consecutive session of gains on Wall Street overnight. CSL rose 1.4% to $293.35 and leading health stocks higher while ResMed set a new high of $35.16. Star Entertainment has withdrawn its $12 billion merger proposal with Crown Resorts. While the proposal had estimated cost synergies of $150- $200 million per year, Star had concerns over the outcome of the Victorian Royal Commission’s probe on Crown’s Victorian casino licence. Department store chain Myer has secured a 10-year lease on a new 40,000 square metre National Distribution Centre in Victoria for both physical store and online fulfilment. Travel bubble suspended NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has suspended quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and all of Australia for at least the next 8 weeks as Australia’s COVID-19 spread continues to grow. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed 136 new COVID-19 cases in the state in the past 24 hours and announced new restrictions. Residents of Cumberland Shire and Blacktown will be prohibited from leaving their suburbs unless they are health or emergency workers, or are otherwise deemed essential. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Astro Resources N.L. (+25.00%), Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) (+8.33%), Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX:NTU) (+8.33%), Okapi Resources Ltd (ASX:OKR, FRA:260) (+10.00%), Poseidon Nickel Ltd (ASX:POS, OTCQB:PSDNF, FRA:NYG1) (+20.00%) and Valor Resources Ltd (ASX:VAL) (+11.11%). Proactive news headlines: Polymetals Resources tests Siguiri-style oxide gold potential across Alahiné licence in Guinea Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) is testing the potential for Siguiri-style shallow oxide gold across its Alahiné licence within the Guinea section of the prolific gold-producing Siguiri Basin, with a team of geologists including a senior POL geologist on site managing the phase-2 drilling program. Poseidon Nickel unveils robust definitive feasibility study for Windarra Gold Tailings Project, shares higher Poseidon Nickel Ltd (ASX:POS, OTCQB:PSDNF, FRA:NYG1) has unveiled a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Windarra Gold Tailings Project, a precious metals asset in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, with the study outlining a robust project. K2fly appoints Nic Pollock as CEO following executive restructure K2fly Ltd (ASX:K2F) has appointed Nic Pollock to the role of chief executive officer, effective from September 1 following an executive restructure. Lindian Resources to fuel the future with 1 billion+ tonne Guinean bauxite resources Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN) has in excess of one billion tonnes of bauxite resources in the Republic of Guinea - and is now in the process of bringing its assets into production. PVW Resources expands King of The West by 50% in Kalgoorlie asset swap and acquisition PVW Resources NL (ASX:PVW) has expanded its King of The West Gold Project area near Kalgoorlie in WA by 50% to span more than 150 square kilometres.