S&P/ASX 200 slips 1.03% as bond yields rise again; retail sales grow

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) opened in the red and was trading 1.03% lower at 6,747.5 points by about 1.43 pm following overnight losses on Wall Street. US stocks fell on continued volatility in the US bond markets, with yields rising again. Locally, losses have been rather broad-based with nearly all sectors in the red except financials and property stocks. ANZ Bank (ASX:ANZ) is outperforming with a 2.98% rise while CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) slipped 4.46%. Australian retail sales rise On the economic front, January retail sales saw a modest rise of 0.5%, slightly below a 0.6% rise in preliminary data. International trade data was far better than expected for January with a surplus of $10.1 billion, well above expectations. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) (+14.29%), Carnavale Resources Limited (ASX:CAV) (+14.29%), Davenport Resources Ltd (ASX:DAV) (+10.67%), Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) (+9.09%), Rimfire Pacific Mining N L (ASX:RIM) (+11.11%) and Comet Resources Limited (ASX:CRL) (+8.70%). Proactive news headlines: Core Lithium acquires right to more than 30 lithium pegmatite targets adjacent to flagship Finniss Lithium Project Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) (OTCMKTS:CORX) has signed an option agreement to acquire six granted mineral leases containing more than 30 lithium pegmatite targets adjacent to its 100%-owned Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Elementos identifies new target at Cleveland as tin prices surge to 10-year high Elementos Limited (ASX:ELT) (OTCMKTS:ELTLF) (FRA:9EM) has identified a new drill target at its 100%-owned Cleveland Tin Project as surging tin prices make it attractive to resume exploration activities. Salt Lake Potash syndicates US$138 million senior debt facility to Sequoia and Commonwealth Bank Salt Lake Potash Ltd (ASX:SO4) (LON:SO4) (OTCMKTS:WHELF) (FRA:W1D) has syndicated its US$138 million senior debt facility with Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund (LON:SEQI) and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) joining the facility. Montem Resources tests confirm Tier 1 hard coking coal at Chinook Vicary in Canada Montem Resources Limited's (ASX:MR1) coal quality testing on drilling samples from Chinook Vicary area of its Chinook Project in Alberta, Canada, have confirmed the presence of Tier 1 hard coking coal (HCC). PNX Metals progresses Fountain Head Gold Project feasibility towards development decision next quarter as it finalises Glencoe deposit purchase PNX Metals Ltd’s (ASX:PNX) (FRA:4P1) 100%-owned Fountain Head Gold Project feasibility in the Northern Territory is progressing towards a development decision in the second quarter of 2021. Kinetiko about to turn on the gas tap at Amersfoort in energy-hungry South Africa Kinetiko Energy Ltd (ASX:KKO) is about to produce its first gas from the Amersfoort Project in South Africa, a country that is hungry for energy having experienced regular and widespread blackouts in recent years. Kin Mining completes share purchase plan, takes capital raising to $12.8 million Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) (FRA:8KM) has completed the share purchase plan (SPP) announced on February 10, 2021, with existing shareholders subscribing for an additional 6.45 million of new shares at $0.13 per share, raising around $838,500. ioneer hits key Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project milestone with A$60 million fully underwritten institutional placement to accelerate construction ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) (OTCMKTS:GSCCF) (FRA:4G1) is undertaking a fully underwritten institutional placement to sophisticated, professional and institutional investors to raise A$60 million to help accelerate construction of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA. Corazon Mining higher on revealing nickel-copper sulphides linked to new conductor at Lynn Lake Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) (OTCMKTS:CRZNF) is trading higher after receiving positive initial visual results from its current phase of drilling at Lynn Lake Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Sulphide Project in Manitoba Province, Canada. Arrow Minerals' broad, high-grade results continue to grow Dassa gold discovery in Burkina Faso Arrow Minerals Ltd’s (ASX:AMD) reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Dassa gold deposit on the Divole West exploration permit in Burkina Faso has expanded gold mineralisation to a strike length of more than 900 metres. Legend Mining receives $3.14 million cash boost through early exercise of options Legend Mining Limited (ASX:LEG) directors and senior management have demonstrated strong confidence in the company’s growing nickel sulphide story focused on Western Australia’s Fraser Range by exercising options. Element 25 starts pre-commissioning at Butcherbird Manganese Project with completion on track for this quarter Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) (FRA:QFP) has confirmed delivery of the first stage of a planned multi-stage development at its 100%-owned world-class Butcherbird Manganese Project in WA, with completion on track and in line with the original target of the first quarter of 2021.