Closing Bell: ASX edges 0.32pc higher to reach new record high

The ASX closed today at a new record high.

The ASX 200 closed at 7,563 points, 0.32% higher than yesterday.

The best sector was tech which gained over 1.5%, while industrials retreated over 1%.

The rise of the market came despite NSW reaching another record high number of COVID-19 cases and lockdowns in multiple states impacting consumer confidence.

Today’s weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index fell to its lowest level since last November driven by a plunge in survey respondents’ feelings about their personal financial situations and whether now was a “good time to buy major household items”.

Stocks in broader Asia mostly fell with the exemption of Japan following on from Wall Street overnight. Gold and oil stabilised after declines at the end of last week.

TODAY’S BIGGEST WINNERS

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.

Stocks highlighted in yellow rose after making announcements during intraday trade.

Code	Company	Price	%	Volume
T3D	333D Limited	0.002	100	788815
CCE	Carnegie Cln Energy	0.003	50	53872518
HCD	Hydrocarbon Dynamic	0.017	31	3182608
A3D	Aurora Labs Limited	0.13	30	2380017
KNM	Kneomedia Limited	0.009	29	27046946
EN1	Engage:Bdr Limited	0.005	25	207464
SOR	Strategic Elements	0.335	22	11472633
ARR	American Rare Earths	0.14	22	8776074
JRL	Jindalee Resources	3.62	21	331954
PNC	Pioneer Credit Ltd	0.55	21	419986
PDZ	Prairie Mining Ltd	0.29	21	202062
CGB	Cann Global Limited	0.006	20	984410
RDG	Res Dev Group Ltd	0.048	20	205880
ASN	Anson Resources Ltd	0.105	19	16945337
NKL	Nickelxltd	0.225	18	3209892
RCR	Rincon	0.225	18	46821
AGY	Argosy Minerals Ltd	0.165	18	32276913
IBX	Imagion Biosys Ltd	0.082	17	13211027
LSA	Lachlan Star Ltd	0.036	16	12984014
NVX	Novonix Limited	3.49	16	15069308
ACP	Audalia Res Ltd	0.015	15	570000
GL1	Globallith	0.38	15	4930054

Lachlan Star (ASX:LSA) signed a term sheet with Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) which would allow Liontown to earn 51% equity in Lachlan Star’s Koojan Ni-Cu-PGE prospect.

Battery company Novonix (ASX:NVX) announced Phillips 66 would invest 16% stake in it. The deal will result in Phillips 66 chipping in US$150 million and one of its executives joining Noxonix’s board.

TODAY’S BIGGEST LOSERS

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort.

Stocks highlighted in yellow fell after making announcements during intraday trade.

Code	Company	Price	%	Volume
CLZ	Classic Min Ltd	0.001	-50	71073427
ANL	Amani Gold Ltd	0.001	-33	3054949
MCM	Mc Mining Ltd	0.115	-23	856417
DDD	3D Resources Limited	0.004	-20	5962698
VIC	Victory Mines Ltd	0.002	-20	3498333
CLE	Cyclone Metals	0.005	-17	15615419
ADV	Ardiden Ltd	0.012	-14	15721487
RAN	Range International	0.013	-13	2337522
MM8	Medallion Metals.	0.2	-13	195950
TMX	Terrain Minerals	0.007	-13	1014234
CAP	Carpentaria Resource	0.14	-13	14834730
AJX	Alexium Int Group	0.072	-12	2294368
RDN	Raiden Resources Ltd	0.022	-12	1371252
BLG	Bluglass Limited	0.037	-12	17614266
BEE	Broo Ltd	0.015	-12	3263333
TOE	Toro Energy Limited	0.015	-12	21128435
ENX	Enegex Limited	0.093	-11	2381915
CHR	Charger Metals	0.435	-11	3581202
AYM	Australia United Min	0.008	-11	60000
LNY	Laneway Res Ltd	0.004	-11	1625744
MRD	Mount Ridley Mines	0.004	-11	4798853
NCR	Nucoal Resources Ltd	0.008	-11	402617

Broo (ASX:BEE) fell off the back of news Victorian authorities declined to approve the current propose terms of sale of its Ballarat property.

ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY’VE MISSED

Regional Express (ASX:REX) downgraded its profit guidance from a profit before tax loss of $15m for the full year of FY21 to an $18m loss. The company cited lockdowns in NSW as the reason for the downgrade.

BookmakerBlueBet Holdings (ASX:BBT) signed an exclusive licensing deal with BlueWater Resort & Casino. Through BlueWater’s presence and relevant licensing in the Arizona market, the companies will jointly pursue a sports betting licence in the state.

Investing platform Selfwealth (ASX:SWF) hit the 100,000 active traders milestone on its platform. According to the company, a new independent research report shows that SelfWealth is now the fourth largest player in the online broking industry in Australia.

Africa focused gold play Firefinch (ASX:FFX) commenced operations at its Viper project following the fast track of pre-mining activities. Viper has continued to show high grade results from drilling, which includes 9 metres at 15.1g/t gold from 40 metres, including 1m at 98.7g/t.

Still with Africa focused resources plays, Elevate Uranium (ASX:EL8) says there is encouraging uranium mineralisation identified at Namib IV in Nambia. Significant intersections include 2 m at 435 ppm eU3O8 from surface.

The ASX’s only quantum computing stock Archer Materials (ASX:AXE) has been granted a South Korean patent for its CQ chip. The CQ chip is Archer’s quantum computing chip technology specifically developed to access global markets and will provide protection for the CQ chip in South Korea up until December 2036.