S&P/ASX 200 hits seven-month high of 6247 as healthcare, IT surge

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is trading 66 points or 1.07% higher at 6243 by about 1 pm after crossing the 6240-mark for the first time since March 5, 2020. Share price gains at lunch have been across the board with nearly every sector advancing in the first few hours of trade. The IT sector gained 1.64%, healthcare was up 2%, materials rose 1.04% and the heavyweight financial sector was up 1.14% Property is the only sector which declined with a 0.27% loss. CSL and CIMIC surge Biotech giant CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) is the biggest contributor to the market gains with the stock rising 1.9%. CIMIC Group Ltd (ASX:CIM) surged 6.18% after agreeing to sell 50% of its Thiess mining division to the UK branch of US hedge fund Elliott Management Corporation. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR) (+15.91%), Argonaut Resources NL (ASX:ARE) (+14.29%), Hexagon Energy Materials Ltd (ASX:HXG) (+19.57%), Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) (+11.27%), Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) (+22.22%), Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) (+33.33%) and Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (+20.00%). Proactive news headlines: Nexus Minerals hits high gold grades of up to 57.1 g/t in Templar drilling at Wallbrook Nexus Minerals Ltd (ASX:NXM) has received high-grade results of up to 1-metre at 57.1 g/t from the second 20 RC holes drilled at Templar prospect within the Wallbrook Gold Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Strategic Elements automation technology to be used in fight against weeds Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) subsidiary Stealth Technologies has formed a new collaboration in which it will use its leading-edge autonomous technologies in the fight against weeds. Hexagon Energy Materials focused on developing 2021 fieldwork program at McIntosh Nickel-PGE Project Hexagon Energy Materials Ltd (ASX:HXG) is focused on progressing work plans for its McIntosh Nickel-PGE Project in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and is encouraged by recent developments at nearby projects. Galena Mining hits best-ever lead-silver result at Abra Base Metals Project Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) (FRA:GM6) has hit the best-ever high-grade lead-silver drill result at the Abra Base Metals Project in hole AB147 based on combined cumulative thickness and grade. Salt Lake Potash adds operational and potash experience to board Salt Lake Potash Ltd (ASX:SO4) (LON:SO4) (OTCMKTS:WHELF) has added operational and potash experience to its board through the appointment of Phil Montgomery and Peter Thomas as independent non-executive directors. West Wits Mining aims for maiden underground production at Witwatersrand Basin Project in 2021 West Wits Mining Limited (ASX:WWI) has secured the environmental authorisation component of a mining right application for the Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP) in South Africa and has completed the scoping study for the project. Carnavale Resources on track to complete majority of its planned exploration program in the current field season Carnavale Resources Ltd (ASX:CAV) (FRA:YBB) is on track to complete the majority of its planned exploration for the 2020/21 financial year which is focussed on its Western Australian projects, during the current field season.