S&P/ASX 200 dips 0.17% following a weak lead from Wall Street

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) retreated 0.17% to 6200 by about 1.13 pm weighed by declines in major mining and healthcare share prices. Wall Street's major indices fell overnight amid a rise in weekly jobless claims, surging number of COVID-19 cases and uncertainties surrounding an economic stimulus package before the US election. Healthcare and miners tumble Biotech giant CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL), which is the largest listed stock on the ASX by market cap, is down 0.46% while Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) dropped 2.49% Major miners fell after iron ore prices retreated for a fourth consecutive session on supply concerns with BHP Group (ASX:BHP) 0.7% lower and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) down 0.5%. Rio full-year guidance unchanged For the quarter ended 30 September, Rio reported Pilbara iron ore shipments of 82.1 million tonnes, which is a 5% decline on the prior quarter and slightly lower than expectations. However, the company’s iron ore production was strong at 86.4 million tonnes, a 4% lift on second-quarter production. Rio left its full-year guidance unchanged, even though planned maintenance in the Pilbara will continue over the next three months. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include RPM Automotive Group Ltd (ASX:RPM) (+9.52%), Carnavale Resources Limited (ASX:CAV) (+30.77%), Vrx Silica Ltd (ASX:VRX) (+8.33%), Zelira Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD) (+12.50%), St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ) (+8.70%) and Fe Limited (ASX:FEL) (+8.33%). Proactive news headlines: Salt Lake Potash on track with Lake Way SOP Project development and funding package Salt Lake Potash Ltd (ASX:SO4) (LON:SO4) (OTCMKTS:WHELF) is continuing the development of the Lake Way Sulphate of Potash (SOP) Project in Western Australia with on-lake and off-lake operations progressing on schedule. Kazia Therapeutics executes agreement to begin GBM Agile pivotal study Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:KZA) has executed a definitive agreement with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR) to begin participation in the GBM AGILE pivotal study in glioblastoma. Althea Group sets new patients record as quarterly revenue rises 32% Althea Group Holdings Ltd’s (ASX:AGH) shares jumped 5% yesterday after announcing a 32% quarter-on-quarter growth in unaudited revenue for the September quarter to $2.1 million. Sipa Resources set for period of very active exploration after year of challenge and transformation Sipa Resources Limited (ASX:SRI) (FRA:SPO) sees the coming year is shaping up to be one of very active exploration after a year of challenge and transformation. Netlinkz strengthens board skill-set with appointment of senior business executive Grant Booker Netlinkz Ltd (ASX:NET), a virtual secure network (VSN) company, has strengthened its board through the appointment of senior business executive Grant Booker, who has M&A experience, as a non-executive director. Oakdale Resources keen for assays from first diamond hole at project in golden state of Nevada Oakdale Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (FRA:F1S) is keenly awaiting assay results from its first diamond hole at the highly prospective Lambarson Canyon Project in a prolific gold region in the USA’s modern-day golden state of Nevada.