S&P/ASX 200 jumps 0.73% as positive COVID-19 vaccine developments buoy Wall Street overnight

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) is lifting for a seventh straight day, with the index up by 0.73% or 49 points to 6,736.6 by 2 pm. This follows an overnight jump in Wall Street, with the S&P 500 closing above 3,700 points for the first time. S&P/ASX 200 is trading close to its 9.5 months high after having surged by more than 13% over the past five weeks. Fortescue Metals hits record high Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) is up 1% after hitting a fresh record high this morning following the rise in iron ore prices overnight by 1.6% to US$149.95 per tonne. The price of the metal has jumped by about 30% in just six weeks and is near its eight-year high thanks to strong demand from Chinese steelmakers. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:MXC) (+33.33%), Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX:CPH) (+55.32%), Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) (+10.71%), PNX Metals Ltd (ASX:PNX) (+16.67%), Elementos Limited (ASX:ELT) (+28.57%), Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) (+26.44%) and MMJ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:MMJ) (+12.12%). Proactive news headlines: Elixinol Global Ltd well-positioned for growth on back of positive cannabis regulatory decisions Elixinol Global Ltd (ASX:EXL) (OTCMKTS:ELLXF) (FRA:E8M) has welcomed recent regulatory decisions that will open new distribution channels for the global hemp CBD company. Lithium Australia offloading non-core exploration plays to focus on battery supply chain Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) (OTCMKTS:LMMFF) (FRA:3MW) has granted an option for Charger Metals NL to acquire part of the company’s Australian exploration assets as a part of its strategy to offload non-core exploration plays to focus on battery supply chains. Oklo Resources targets maiden gold resource in quarter one 2021 Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) expects its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) at Seko within its flagship Dandoko Gold Project in Mali to be released in quarter one 2021. Creso Pharma soars on landing three new Canadian purchase orders and expanding into Canada’s largest recreational market Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX:CPH) (OTCMKTS:COPHF) (FRA:1X8) has soared 88% after subsidiary Mernova Medicinal Inc received three new purchase orders as well as a notice to purchase from the Province of Ontario, marking the company’s entry into Canada’s largest recreational cannabis market. Kazia Therapeutics top-line data from Cantrixil Phase 1 study confirms positive efficacy and safety Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:KZA) has shared top-line final data from its phase 1 study of Cantrixil (TRX-E-002-1) in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer (NCT02903771) which demonstrates positive efficacy and safety outcomes. Archer Materials collaborates with leading AI company Max Kelsen on quantum algorithm for 12CQ chip Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (OTCMKTS:ARRXF) (FRA:38A) has entered into a collaboration with leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning company, Max Kelsen, to develop quantum algorithms relevant to the operation of the 12CQ quantum computing processor. Meteoric Resources finds IP anomaly exceeding 2,000 by 1,500 metres at Juruena Epithermal Gold Project in Brazil Meteoric Resources NL (ASX:MEI) (FRA:RNF) has identified a giant induced polarisation (IP) anomaly exceeding 2,000 metres by 1,500 metres and less than 500 metres below the surface at its Juruena Epithermal Gold Project in Brazil. Musgrave Minerals hits high-grade near-surface gold at new regional Break of Day target within Cue Project Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) (OTCMKTS:MGVMF) has received high-grade near-surface gold results from aircore drilling of a new regional target at the Break of Day deposit within the flagship Cue Gold Project in Western Australia’s Murchison district. Piedmont Lithium intends to re-domicile to the US and move primary listing from ASX to NASDAQ Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (NASDAQ:PLL) (OTCMKTS:PDDTF) intends to re-domicile from Australia to the US via a proposed scheme of arrangement, subject to shareholder, regulatory and court approvals which will cement the company’s position as an important part of the US supply chain. Kin Mining results of up to 5 metres at 27.7 g/t gold pave way for resource upgrade at Hobby within CGP Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) results of up to 5 metres at 27.7 g/t gold from infill reverse circulation drilling at Hobby prospect within the Cardinia Gold Project (CGP) in Western Australia pave the way for a resource upgrade. Element 25 agrees Butcherbird Manganese Project stage 2 partial offtake and US$5 million debt financing terms Element 25 Limited (ASX:E25) (FRA:QFP) has agreed key commercial terms to sell 50% of the manganese ore produced from the second stage of the Butcherbird Project development to Singapore-based Semeru Energy Ltd. Emyria confident its unique clinical and data models will help accelerate drug registration Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) has launched its first product EMD-003 – a cannaboid for mental health – and is confident its drug development program will allow it to accelerate drug registration.