S&P/ASX 200 slips as Australian dollar hits three-year high

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) was see-sawing between positive and negative territories, with the index down 0.19% to 6,781 at 1.46 pm. The Australian dollar has hit a three-year high today by rising to 79 US cents and breaking through ¥83 and €0.65 for the first time since December 2018. 9 out of the 11 sectors on the ASX are in the red but strong gains from the mining sector (up 2.35%) and industrials are helping minimise losses. The ASX 200 remains on track to rise for a fifth consecutive month with the market currently up by about 2.75% in February. Bank of Queensland to buy ME Bank Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) has confirmed it will buy ME Bank for $1.3 billion. BOQ said said it would fund the deal via a $1.35 billion equity raising. Together, the group will hold more than $88 billion in assets and $56 billion in deposits. BOQ services 900,000 customers, while ME Bank has 450,000. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (+27.50%), Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) (+11.36%), Arrow Minerals Ltd (ASX:AMD) (+12.50%), Cipherpoint Ltd (ASX:CPT) (+13.73%), Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) (+14.29%), Engage:BDR Ltd (ASX:EN1) (+20.00%) and Tempest Minerals Ltd (ASX:TEM) (+11.11%). Proactive news headlines: Archer Materials at new record on key 12CQ milestone with electronic transport achieved in a single cubit Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (OTCMKTS:ARRXF) (FRA:38A) has passed a key technological milestone with electronic transport achieved in a single qubit at room temperature. Cirralto raises $18 million and releases new software as part of aggressive growth strategy Cirralto Ltd (ASX:CRO) has received commitments to raise A$18 million through the issue of 200 million fully paid ordinary shares to institutional sophisticated and professional investors at an issue price of A$0.09 per share. Pharmaxis enrols first patient in clinical trial for PXS‐5505, a potential new treatment for bone marrow cancer myelofibrosis Pharmaxis Ltd (ASX:PXS) (OTCMKTS:PXSLY) (FRA:UUD) has enrolled the first patient in a clinical trial studying a potential new treatment for the bone marrow cancer myelofibrosis. Jindalee Resources receives more positive metallurgical results from McDermitt Lithium Project Jindalee Resources Ltd (ASX:JRL) has received further positive metallurgical results on samples from the McDermitt Lithium Project in southeast Oregon, United States. PVW Resources completes Tanami project acquisition, plans on-ground exploration next quarter PVW Resources Limited (ASX:PVW) has completed the acquisition of the Tanami Project in Western Australia from Orion Metals Limited (ASX:ORM) following the final payment of $120,000. Galena Mining unveils up to 26.9 metres at 1.4% copper in first targeted copper-gold hole at Abra Base Metals Project Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) (FRA:GM6) has received high-grade results of up to 26.9 metres at 1.4% copper from the first targeted copper-gold hole at Abra Base Metals Project in the Gascoyne region of WA. Tempus Resources identifies gold and copper in phase 1 sampling at Valle Del Tigre Project in Ecuador Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR) (CVE:TMRR) (FRA:4W0) has completed a Phase 1 exploration program at its Valle de Tigre II (VdT) Project in south-eastern Ecuador with visible gold and copper observed in samples. Queensland Pacific Metals shares soar on decision to boost size of TECH Project size by at least two times Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM) (FRA:4EA) has soared after committing to increase the scale of the TECH Project in Townsville, Queensland, by at least two times from what was originally contemplated in the pre-feasibility study. archTIS strong first half results with key financial metrics and foundational contract wins set groundwork for continued growth archTIS Ltd (ASX:AR9) has delivered strong first-half financial year 2021 results, with its key financial metrics and foundational contract wins setting the groundwork for continued growth in the second half of the 2021 financial year. Mako Gold kicks off exploration on recently granted Korhogo permits in Côte d’Ivoire Mako Gold Ltd (ASX:MKG) has started a soil geochemical survey on the recently granted Korhogo Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire where no previous exploration has been recorded over 296 square kilometres of tenure. Brookside Energy secures Stonehorse Energy as working interest partner at Jewell wellbore in world-class Anadarko Basin Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (OTCMKTS:RDFEF) has farmed out a portion of the Jewell Well in the world-class Anadarko Basin to fellow ASX-listed oil & gas company, Stonehorse Energy Ltd (ASX:SHE). Alta Zinc kick starts drilling at Ponente, a historical production area of Gorno Zinc Project in Italy Alta Zinc Ltd (ASX:AZI) (FRA:8EE) has started drilling at Ponente, a historical production area of the Gorno Zinc Project, in Lombardy, northern Italy, which hosts a significant northwest extension of the Metallifero Formation, the primary host to much of the zinc-lead mineralisation that has also been consistently drilled at Pian Bracca.