S&P/ASX 200 rises as fourth quarter GDP grows at a higher than expected 3.1%

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) gained 0.67% to 6,807 by about 1.45 pm after Australia’s GDP rose 3.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020 (October to December), higher than an expected rise of 2.5%. While on an annual basis the economy shrank 1.1%, it was still better than an expected 1.9% decline. Gold miners surge Gold miners are some of the biggest winners today with Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) rising 10.79% and Northern Star (ASX:NST) up 3.4%. Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) gained 4.35% and BHP Group (ASX:BHP) rose 2.5%. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Ansila Energy NL (ASX:ANA) (+13.04%), Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (+36.36%), Davenport Resources Ltd (ASX:DAV) (+22.22%), OAR Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (+14.29%), Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM) (+12.24%) and Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (+7.98%). Proactive news headlines: Orthocell’s CelGro® Dental granted inclusion on Australian Prostheses List Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC) has received notification from the Australian Government Department of Health that CelGro® Dental has been included on the Australian Prostheses List. Auroch Minerals locks in drill rig for 12 months at high-grade nickel projects Auroch Minerals Ltd (ASX:AOU) has signed a drilling contract with Seismic Drilling Services Pty Ltd that locks in a drill rig for the next 12 months to be used across Auroch’s three high-grade nickel sulphide assets in Western Australia. Lake Resources appoints joint financial advisors for Kachi Lithium Brine Project Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMTS:LLKKF) has appointed SD Capital Advisory Limited and GKB Ventures Limited as joint financial advisors to structure and arrange project finance, with a focus on Export Credit Agencies (ECA’s) for the development of the company’s flagship Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Argentina. Latin Resources directors continue to show confidence in company strategy encompassing high-value multi-commodities Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) (FRA:XL5) directors David Vilensky and Chris Gale have demonstrated their support for the company’s multi-commodity strategy across its halloysite, lithium, gold and copper projects in Australia and South America, including Argentina. PolarX more than triples Fourth of July land under tenure at Humboldt Range Gold-Silver Project in Nevada PolarX Ltd (ASX:PXX) (FRA:PX0) has successfully staked and registered 96 new federal lode claims to consolidate tenure at Humboldt Range Project in Nevada, USA, more than tripling the size of the land under tenure in the Fourth of July area. Castillo Copper acts on strong Big One results and buoyant copper markets with intent to recommence mining operations Castillo Copper Ltd (ASX:CCZ) (LON:CCZ) (FRA:7OR) is focusing its strategic intent on taking the next step at Big One Deposit within Mt Oxide Project in northwest Queensland's world-class Mt Isa copper-belt and is starting to prepare the groundwork to potentially recommence mining operations. Alcidion signs contract with New Zealand health boards for electronic medication management Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX:ALC) has signed a contract with New Zealand’s Te Manawa Taki (TMT) region District Health Boards (DHBs) for a pilot implementation of Better’s OPENeP Electronic Medication Management solution.