S&P/ASX 200 slips as supermarket chains and tech stocks drag

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) fell 0.57% to 6878 points by about 1.45 pm with the consumer staples, healthcare and tech sectors weighing on the index. Supermarket major Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) is down 4.91% while Coles Group (ASX:COL) is 5.25% lower. The information technology sector has also slipped 2.13% with Afterpay (ASX:APT) down 3.94%. Materials is the only sector in the green with a 0.91% lift thanks to a 2.45% gain for BHP (ASX:BHP) and a 2.78% gain for Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG). Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Tyranna Resources Ltd (ASX:TYX) (+12.50%), Cirralto Ltd (ASX:CRO) (+38.38%) and Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) (+10.71%). Proactive news headlines: Northern Minerals final 2020 drilling results support resource growth potential at Browns Range Northern Minerals Ltd's (ASX:NTU) (OTCMKTS:NOURF) (FRA:NUN) final results from its 2020 rare earth exploration and resource definition drilling campaign at the Browns Range Project in Western Australia support the potential for growth in resources. Core Lithium’s initial drilling confirms gold along entire 1.6-kilometre Far East belt at Bynoe Gold Project Core Lithium Ltd’s (ASX:CXO) (OTCMKTS:CXOXF) rotary air blast (RAB) drilling has found gold mineralisation beneath the newly-discovered Far East belt at its wholly-owned Bynoe Gold Project in the Northern Territory. OAR Resources maiden Gibraltar aircore program confirms kaolinite in all holes and high-value halloysite in 40% of holes OAR Resources Ltd’s (ASX:OAR) (FRA:F1S) results from maiden aircore drilling at its 100%-owned Gibraltar Halloysite Project on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia, confirm the presence of kaolinite in all holes sampled and high-value halloysite in 24 of the 59 holes drilled. Creso Pharma's Canadian subsidiary Mernova Medicinal demonstrates strong uptake with new purchase orders Creso Pharma Ltd (ASX:CPH) (OTCMKTS:COPHF) (FRA:1X8) wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary Mernova Medical Inc has secured purchase orders for its leading Ritual Green product range totalling C$494,131 (A$502,199), demonstrating ongoing strong uptake. Galena Mining executes hybrid power purchase agreement for Abra Base Metals Project Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) (FRA:GM6) welcomes the execution by Abra Mining Pty Limited (AMPL), the joint-venture company for the Abra Base Metals Project, of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Contract Power Australia Pty Ltd. Rumble Resources discovers multiple high-grade lead-zinc-silver breccia zones at Braeside Project, Pilbara, WA Rumble Resources Ltd’s (ASX:RTR) (FRA:20Z) final drill assay results from reverse circulation drilling at Barker Well Prospect of Braeside project in Western Australia's Pilbara region have revealed multiple high-grade lead breccia zones from surface and over 800 metres of strike. Matador Mining continues to "exceed expectations" with results from Cape Ray Gold Project Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ) has received more impressive near-surface gold grades and widths from the final three holes of the Isle Aux Morts resource and extension drilling program at its 100%-owned Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada. Peninsula Energy upgraded to OTCQB Venture Market following strong trading volumes Peninsula Energy Ltd (ASX:PEN) (OTCMKTS:PENMF) (FRA:P1M) has been given the green light by OTC Market Group to begin trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under the ticker symbol PENMF at the opening of trade in the US on February 17.