S&P/ASX 200 jumps to a new 11-month high as major miners surge

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) hit a fresh 11-month high of 6,913 at open and was last trading 0.36% higher at 6893 points by 1.45 pm. The iron ore giants were strong, with BHP Group (ASX:BHP) reporting stellar results. BHP’s share price rose 2.5% after paying a record interim dividend of US$1.01 per share, a 55% lift on its interim dividend for FY20. This follows a double-digit rise in underlying earnings for the mega miner after its average realised iron ore price increased 33% compared to the same time last year. Buy-now-pay-later provider ZipCo (ASX:Z1P) is one of the biggest movers on the ASX 200 with a gain of 6% and is up ~25% so far this week and ~165% higher year-to-date. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Tyranna Resources Ltd (ASX:TYX) (+14.29%), Cirralto Ltd (ASX:CRO) (+28.36%), CardieX Ltd (ASX:CDX) (+16.22%) and Xtek Ltd (ASX:XTE) (+10.17%). Proactive news headlines: Alkane Resources updated San Antonio resource estimate takes Tomingley extension to almost 1.1 million ounces Alkane Resources Limited (ASX:ALK) (OTCMKTS:ALKEF) (FRA:AK7) has updated the mineral resource for San Antonio Deposit at its Tomingley Gold Project (TGP) in Central West New South Wales after an additional 37,000 metres of drilling. Blackstone Minerals continues to strike massive sulphide vein mineralisation at King Snake in Vietnam Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX) (OTCMKTS:BLSTF) (FRA:B9S) continues to intersect massive sulphide vein (MSV) mineralisation in all drill holes subsequent to the maiden intersections at King Snake target of the Ta Khoa Nickel–Copper-PGE Project in Vietnam. Alto Metals accelerates major Sandstone drilling program as second RC rig arrives Alto Metals Ltd (ASX:AME) has accelerated its extensive 2021 exploration program at the flagship Sandstone Gold Project, thanks to the on-time arrival of a second reverse circulation drill rig. ioneer completes autonomous haul truck study with Caterpillar and signs MoU for use of Cat® Command at Rhyolite Ridge ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) (OTCMKTS:GSCCF) has completed a joint automation study with Caterpillar, the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment and the Cat dealer for Nevada, Cashman Equipment Company, targeting the early introduction of Cat® Command. FYI Resources attracts initial strategic investment from international fund GEM Global Yield FYI Resources Ltd (ASX:FYI) (FRA:SDL) has attracted an initial strategic investment from Luxembourg-based private equity group GEM Global Yield LLC SCS (GEM). Sipa Resources doubles Murchison Gold Project with acquisition of Garden Gully from Miramar Resources Sipa Resources Limited (ASX:SRI) (FRA:SPO) has executed a sale and purchase agreement with Miramar Resources Ltd (ASX:M2R) to acquire the Garden Gully Project in the Murchison district of Western Australia for $150,000 in cash and shares.