S&P/ASX 200 lifts 0.65% as consumer confidence rises to 19-month high

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) has lifted 0.65% to 7091.7 points by about 1 pm following a strong lead from Wall Street. The mood is upbeat as the weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 1.5% to a 19-month high of 114.2 (long-run average since 1990 is 112.6). Local technology stocks were up by about 2% per cent, chasing Wall Street’s gains which were led by technology shares and reopening plays. Bank, tech majors rise The Big Four banks gained, with Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) touching an all-time high of $99.65. Afterpay (ASX:APT) shares surged as much as 4.5% while biotech major CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) gained 0.86%. Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) rose 1.5% and BHP Group (ASX:BHP) gained 1.2% even as iron ore prices fell overnight. Plenti loan growth Plenti Group (ASX:PLT) reported a surge in car loans for FY21, helping the fintech achieve a 64% increase in full-year loan origination. Car loans jumped 301% to $231 million for the year ended 31 March 2021 while renewable energy loans grew 33% to $57 million. However, personal lending decreased slightly to $182 million. Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Carnavale Resources Limited (ASX:CAV) (+16.67%), Emmerson Resources Limited (ASX:ERM) (+11.27%), Golden Rim Resources Ltd. (ASX:GMR) (+10.00%), MMJ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:MMJ) (+18.99%), OAR Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (+18.18%), Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd (ASX:TEG) (+14.81%) and Imugene Limited (ASX:IMU) (+8.64%). Proactive news headlines: Emmerson Resources higher on striking high-grade near-surface gold at Blake Snake in Tennant Creek JV Emmerson Resources Limited (ASX:ERM) (FRA:42E) is trading higher after delivering new high-grade gold results from drilling at Black Snake prospects within the Tennant Creek joint venture in the Northern Territory. Eclipse Metals receives further Greenland Government validation through Ivittuut licence extension Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) has received further indication of the Greenland Government’s support for its Ivittuut Project through confirmation of a four-year extension to the mineral exploration licence. Musgrave Minerals turns up the heat at Cue Gold Project with results up to 2 metres at 38.7 g/t from 10 metres at regional prospects Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) (OTCMKTS:MGVMF) (FRA:6MU) has received high-grade reverse circulation (RC) drilling results from White Heat and Numbers prospects within the flagship Cue Gold Project in Western Australia, demonstrating the potential for further gold discoveries. Fe Limited acquires option to boost equity interest in near-production JWD Iron Ore JV to 60% Fe Limited (ASX:FEL) is seeking to lift its exposure to the near-production JWD Iron Ore Joint Venture in Western Australia by acquiring additional equity interest for a 60% stake. Nanollose dispatches first shipment of microbial cellulose to Birla Cellulose pilot facilities in India Nanollose Ltd (ASX:NC6) has dispatched the first shipment of refined microbial cellulose (MC) to Birla Cellulose’s pilot facilities in India for further processing and testing prior to being blended with other cellulosic feedstock and spun into lyocell fibre. Element 25 secures access agreement for manganese exports from Utah Point Port Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has executed a multi-user access agreement with Pilbara Port Authority to use Port Hedland Utah Point facility for the bulk export of manganese from the company’s 100%-owned production facility at the Butcherbird Project. BlackEarth Minerals begins extensive drilling aimed at boosting high-grade Maniry graphite resources BlackEarth Minerals NL (ASX:BEM) has started drilling at Maniry Graphite Project in southern Madagascar targeting additional high-grade resources to boost the current JORC resource of 20.2 million tonnes at 6.51% total graphitic carbon content (TGC). Anteris Technologies’ $2.3 million placement strongly supported by Top 10 institutional shareholders Anteris Technologies Ltd (ASX:AVR) (FRA:DDF) has received strong validation of its next-generation structural heart solutions by raising A$2.3 million in a placement to predominantly existing Top 10 institutional shareholders. Spacetalk develops all-in-one smartphone watch and GPS tracker to help keep seniors safe Spacetalk Ltd (ASX:SPA) has developed an all-in-one smartphone watch and GPS tracker that connects wearers with their families at the push of a button.