S&P/ASX 200 gains 0.91% as Australia stops quarantine-free travel for New Zealanders

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) rose 0.91% to 6,859 by about 1.45 pm, recouping all of last week’s losses. This follows a solid lead from Wall Street where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq set record closing highs on Friday. The US stock markets will be closed tonight for the President’s Day holiday. Locally, travel stocks are holding up well despite Australia stopping quarantine-free travel for New Zealanders, after three COVID-19 cases were recorded in Auckland. Qantas (ASX:QAN), Flight Centre (ASX:FLT) and Webjet (ASX:WEB) were all trading higher after falling between 4- 10 per cent last week as Victoria entered a five-day snap lockdown. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Astro Resources N.L. (ASX:ARO) (+25.00%), Valor Resources Ltd (ASX:VAL) (+14.29%), MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:MXC) (+16.92%), Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) (+15.87%), Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (+20.00%). Proactive news headlines: Alicanto Minerals higher on securing tenure covering historic high-grade Sala silver mine in Sweden Alicanto Minerals Ltd (ASX:AQI) is trading higher after securing tenure of the high-grade Sala Silver Project, just 100 kilometres from its Greater Falun Copper-Gold Project in Sweden Maximus Resources hits up to 48.4 g/t gold and extends Redback mineralisation Maximus Resources Limited’s (ASX:MXR) (FRA:M5F) ongoing diamond drilling has returned up to 48.4 g/t gold and extended mineralisation at Redback Gold Deposit within its Spargoville tenements, around 24 kilometres from Kambalda in Western Australia’s premier gold and nickel mining district. Creso Pharma secures distribution agreement for hemp-derived therapeutic products in Pakistan, the Philippines and other new markets Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX:CPH) (FRA:1X8) (OTCMKTS:COPHF) has secured a comprehensive distribution agreement with leading nutritional supplements company, Route2 Pharm Pvt Ltd for its hemp-derived therapeutic products exclusively into Pakistan and Philippines, and non-exclusively into other potential target markets. MGC Pharmaceutical to start new In-vitro cannabinoid study on glioblastoma brain cancer treatment using nano-delivery platform MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd’s (ASX:MXC) (LON:MXC) (OTCMKTS:MGCLF) ongoing pre-clinical research program into the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of aggressive glioblastoma brain cancer has been expanded to explore the use of nanotechnology in relation to the most effective treatment delivery systems. Queensland Pacific Metals pilot plant campaign provides confidence to proceed with TECH Project DFS Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd’s (ASX:QPM) (FRA:4EA) pilot plant test-work has confirmed the flowsheet, providing confidence to proceed towards a definitive feasibility study for the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) Project in North Queensland. Nanoveu executes 12-month exclusive UK distribution agreement with CuVira for antiviral products Nanoveu Ltd (ASX:NVU) has executed a 12-month exclusive distribution agreement with CuVira Ltd for Nanoveu’s products, including Nanoshield antiviral products, in the UK market. Ora Banda Mining signs A$15 million credit approved offer with Commonwealth Bank and appoints Peter Nicolson as new CEO Ora Banda Mining Ora Ltd (ASX:OBM) (FRA:M6N) has signed a A$15 million credit approved offer with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) (OTCMKTS:CBAUF) (FRA:CWW) for hedging and working capital purposes to support prudent risk and capital management during the ramp-up phase, subsequent to the first gold pour at Davyhurst on February 7, 2021. Orthocell granted key US divisional patent for CelGro® Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC) has received a new US divisional patent for CelGro® that covers the method of manufacture of collagen medical devices and as an aid in the surgical repair of soft tissue injuries.