S&P/ASX 200 gains 0.92% following a strong session in the US on Tuesday

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) gained 0.92% to 7,319 points by about 12.50 pm, reclaiming its losses from the past two days following a strong overnight session in the US. The Dow Jones Industrial Average in the US jumped more than 500 points, mostly recovering from its Monday plunge. NSW has recorded 110 new local COVID-19 cases in 24 hours off the back of a record 84,000 tests. Of the new cases, 43 were infectious while in the community. The update follows Victoria confirming 22 new cases Wednesday morning. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “That is a high number but a number which reflects the high amount of testing that we had. “What is concerning, however, is that 43 people in those number of cases were infectious in the community.” Results Construction major CIMIC (ASX:CIM) released its half-year results, highlighting a 10.6% gain in group revenue to $7.1 billion and a $208 million net profit. CIMIC has maintained its FY21 guidance range of $400-$430 million and declared a 42 cents per share interim dividend. Kogan.com’s (ASX:KGN) trading performance in June 2021 saw an acceleration in gross sales, gross profit and adjusted earnings, ahead of a weaker performance in April and May 2021. Compared to FY20, gross sales grew by more than 52% in FY21, revenue was up by more than 56% and profit surged by more than 60%. Retail sales dip Australian retail turnover fell 1.8% for June 2021, seasonally adjusted, according to preliminary retail trade figures released on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ABS Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys Ben James said: "June’s fall in turnover was due to the impact of coronavirus restrictions across multiple states. Victoria saw restrictions from the start of the month, which were gradually eased from the 11th of June.  “New South Wales, in particular Greater Sydney, saw stay-at-home orders issued towards the end of the month.  “Other states and territories saw interrupted trade due to mini-lockdowns, as well as reduced mobility between states with the tightening of border restrictions.” Top gainers Today’s top gainers on the ASX include Lake Resources N.L. (ASX:LKE) (+10.26%), OAR Resources Ltd (ASX:OAR) (+15.38%), Okapi Resources Ltd (ASX:OKR) (+10.17%), Peninsula Energy Ltd (ASX:PEN) (+7.69%), Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) (+14.81%), Rimfire Pacific Mining N L (ASX:RIM) (+12.50%) and Skyfii Ltd (ASX:SKF) (+8.70%). Proactive news headlines: Sovereign Metals launches into scoping study for Kasiya Rutile Project Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM) (FRA:SVM) has moved swiftly into a scoping study for the Kasiya Project in Malawi representing the next major technical milestone toward developing a strategic, large-scale, long life and sustainable rutile operation. Apollo Minerals soars as strong Kroussou zinc-lead results point to shallow discovery Apollo Minerals Limited (ASX:AON) (FRA:4AP) is confident it has a major zinc and lead discovery developing at the Kroussou Project in Gabon after delivering strong mineralised intercepts at shallow depths with shares soaring as a result. Lithium Australia strengthens ESG strategy with admission to Global Battery Alliance Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) (OTCMKTS:LMMFF) (FRA:3MW) has been admitted to the Global Battery Alliance (GBA), which aims to accelerate the deployment of batteries worldwide and lower barriers to a circular battery economy – including the recycling of end-of-life batteries. Marvel Gold's Chilalo Graphite Project spin-out advances with key share exchange agreement executed Marvel Gold Ltd’s (ASX:MVL) (FRA:GR2) proposed spin-out of its Chilalo Graphite Project in Tanzania and initial public offering (IPO) of wholly-owned subsidiary Evolution Energy Metals Ltd is at an advanced stage – pending final in-country regulatory approvals. S&P/ASX 200 gains 0.92% following a strong session in the US on Tuesday S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) gained 0.92% to 7,319 points by about 12.50 pm, reclaiming its losses from the past two days following a strong overnight session in the US. Euro Manganese extends Chvaletice development rights into 2026 Euro Manganese Inc (ASX:EMN) (CVE:EMN) (OTCMKTS:EUMNF) (FRA:E06) has successfully extended its exclusive rights to explore and develop the cornerstone Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic into 2026. Brookside Energy selects Liberty Oilfield Services for Jewell Well completion operations Brookside Energy Ltd (ASX:BRK) has appointed North America’s second-largest oilfield services company to conduct completion operations at its Jewell Well oil and gas prospect in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma.