S&P/ASX 200 dips as UK prepares for full lockdown amid rising COVID-19 cases

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) was trading lower on the second trading day of the year, down 0.16% at 6673.8 by 1.46 pm. The major banks were weighing on the market with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) down 0.63% and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) falling 1.35%. All sectors except telecommunications and materials were in the red, with materials rising by 1.71%. The sector surged higher with support from BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) which was up 3% and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) which gained 2.07%. COVID-19 update England will return to a full coronavirus lockdown, possibly until mid-February, to try to cut spiralling infection rates, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. The measures, which include the closure of primary and secondary schools, will come into effect tomorrow. Victoria reported three locally acquired cases in the last 24 hours, all of which are directly linked to the Black Rock cluster. There are currently 1000 primary and secondary contacts of cases in isolation in Victoria. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) (+29.17%), Xtek Ltd (ASX:XTE) (+10.19%), Artemis Resources Ltd (ASX:ARV) (+16.67%), Southern Gold Limited (ASX:SAU) (+13.64%), Nanoveu Ltd (ASX:NVU) (+16.92%), Archtis Ltd (ASX:AR9) (+11.29%) and Cardiex Ltd (ASX:CDX) (+11.11%). Proactive news headlines: Archer Materials may have quantum advantage in fighting climate change Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (OTCMKTS:ARRXF) (FRA:38A) welcomes a recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) ‘A Quantum Advantage in Fighting Climate Change’ which focuses on how quantum computing could provide economic solutions for companies and governments to fight climate change. Oklo Resources managing director supports gold strategy with on-market share purchase Oklo Resources Ltd (ASX:OKU) (FRA:JYA) managing director and CEO Simon Taylor has shown confidence in the company's gold strategy focused on West Africa with the purchase of 400,000 shares in the company in on-market transactions. Emyria seeks 2021 registration of cannabinoid-based EMD-003 to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress Emyria Limited (ASX:EMD) will pursue the registration of its first cannabinoid-based medicine, EMD-003, to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, with Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2021. Infinity Lithium’s San José Project bolstered by continued support from EU’s EIT InnoEnergy Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd’s (ASX:INF) (FRA:3PM) San José Project in Spain has been further strengthened by ongoing support from EIT InnoEnergy - an independent European Union (EU) body responsible for the industrial development program of the European Battery Alliance. Bionomics initiates 7-day dosing pharmacokinetic study of BNC210 tablets Bionomics Ltd (ASX:BNO) (OTCMKTS:BNOEF) has initiated a 7-day dosing pharmacokinetic (PK) study in healthy volunteers using the newly developed solid dose tablet formulation of its lead drug candidate, BNC210. Maximus Resources' directors endorse company's gold-nickel pipeline by taking up shares in recent placement Maximus Resources Ltd’s (ASX:MXR) (FRA:M5F) directors have given the thumbs up to the company by participating in its recent strategic placement to raise up to $3.18 million to accelerate drilling at prospects around the historic high-grade Wattle Dam Gold Mine.