S&P/ASX 200 down 2.13% mid-day but gold miners are shining bright

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is down 2.13% to 6017 points at 12.42 pm following overnight decline for both the S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP:.INX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) after the US Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged and indicated it does not expect to raise them through 2022. The central bank also expects the US economy to contract by 6.5% in 2020 before expanding by 5% in 2021. Despite mixed sentiments, gold stocks are up mirroring spot gold which gained about 1% to US$1732.30. Gold miners Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM) is up 4.82%, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) gained 6.23% and Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited (ASX:SAR) added 5.22%. Brent crude gained 1.3% a barrel and US oil was up 1.6%. Iron ore fell 0.6% to $US103.93 a tonne. Top gainers Top gainers on the ASX today include Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) (+12.50%), PNX Metals Ltd (ASX:PNX) (+11.11%), St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) (+8.70%), Cipherpoint Ltd (ASX:CPT) (+8.70%), Alice Queen Ltd (ASX:AQX) (+13.04%), Comet Resources Limited (ASX:CRL) (+12.50%), Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (+10.83%) and Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (+14.29%). Proactive news headlines: Arafura Resources receives strong domestic and offshore placement support for $7 million Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) has received firm commitments to raise $7 million through a share placement to institutional and professional investors providing a strong endorsement of the Nolans NdPr Project. The placement, which was completed at an issue price of 6.2 cents per share, received strong support from both domestic and offshore investors. Funds raised will be used to undertake early engineering works at the Nolans Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) Project in the Northern Territory. Medlab Clinical's NanoCBD available in Australia with first SAS scheme patient supplied Medlab Clinical Ltd's (ASX:MDC) newest cannabinoid formulation, NanoCBD, is now available in Australia, with the first patient supplied under the Australian Government’s Special Access Scheme (SAS). The drug is intended for the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and like NanaBis™, shares the same proprietary delivery platform, NanoCelle™. Venus Metals boosts cash balance through two new transactions Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) will boost its cash balance through two new transactions, including the sale of Poona lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) project in WA’s Murchison region to eMetals Ltd (ASX:EMT). The company will also receive funds from the Youanmi joint venture project after partner Rox Resources Limited (ASX:RXL) elected to acquire an additional 20% Interest, lifting its stake to 70%. Walkabout Resources adds Amani Gold Project to African portfolio Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has secured exploration tenure over a highly prospective, underexplored gold region at the Amani Gold Project in southwest Tanzania. The project has been a focus for exploration since 2016 when new geological mapping and fieldwork confirmed the hard rock gold potential of the area.