S&P/ASX 200 rises for a third day in a row to near February 2020’s all-time high

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) gained 49 points or 0.7% to 7,117 by around 1 pm with the benchmark index now only 80 points or 1.1% away from February 2020’s all-time high. Improvements have been across the board with heavyweights CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) and Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) contributing most to market gains. CSL rose 2.7% as it continues to grow its plasma collection network with 25 new centres opening in the US for FY21 and 40 new centres to open in FY22. Commonwealth Bank climbed more than 2.3% to hit its highest levels since April 2015. ANZ (ASX:ANZ) will pay shareholders an interim dividend of 70 cents per share, as the Big Four lender reported that first-half cash profits jumped by 28% to $2.99 billion. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Boadicea Resources Ltd (ASX:BOA) (+15.38%), Great Boulder Resources Ltd (ASX:GBR) (+44.58%), PVW Resources NL (ASX:PVW) (+10.34%), Rimfire Pacific Mining N L (ASX:RIM) (+11.11%), Tyranna Resources Ltd (ASX:TYX) (+16.67%) and Caspin Resources Ltd (ASX:CPN) (+8.09%). Proactive news headlines: Great Boulder Resources rides to two-year high with bonanza gold hits from Mulga Bill Great Boulder Resources Ltd (ASX:GBR) shares have hit a new two-year high as initial results from reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Mulga Bill prospect within the Side Well Gold Project in Western Australia intersected bonanza grade gold of up to 1-metre at 136 g/t. Core Lithium set to begin most extensive lithium exploration and resource drilling program in its history at Finniss Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) (OTCMKTS:CXOXF) has drilling contracts signed with major lithium exploration and resource drilling programs set to begin in coming weeks at the Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Firefinch new life of mine plan for Morila will see annual gold production ramped up to average 160,000 ounces Firefinch Ltd (ASX:FFX) (FRA:N9F) (OTCMKTS:EEYMF) has revealed a new Life of Mine plan (LOMP) for the Morila Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa, outlining annual average production of 160,000 ounces to 2030 through mining and processing of around 37.5 million tonnes at 1.33 g/t for 1.45 million recovered ounces. Bellevue Gold has busy quarter as it closes in on becoming high-grade, long-life gold producer Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX:BGL) made strong progress during the March quarter as the company closes in on becoming a high-grade, long-life gold producer in a tier-1 location in Western Australia. Westar Resources will systematically explore Western Australian assets for remainder of year Westar Resources Ltd (ASX:WSR) is committed to systematic evaluation and exploration of its portfolio of projects in Western Australia, including extensive drilling, through diligent application of capital and resources. Orthocell’s strong cash balance allows company to progress key regulatory approvals and commercialisation strategy Orthocell Ltd’s (ASX:OCC) strong cash position of $17.77 million at the end of the March quarter will enable the company to progress key regulatory approvals and its commercialisation strategy.