Proactive’s Tylah Tully provides a market wrap for November 7.
The ASX closed 0.33% higher today at 8,226.3 points, showing a 0.81% increase over the past five days and standing 1.89% below its 52-week peak.
Sigma Healthcare led gains, rising up to 30% before settling at $2.43 per share by the close.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved Sigma Healthcare's merger with CW Group Holdings, the parent company of Chemist Warehouse, following a court-enforceable undertaking.
The ACCC assessed that the merger would not significantly reduce competition. Sigma welcomed this decision, citing opportunities to create a prominent ASX-listed healthcare company by combining its pharmaceutical distribution with Chemist Warehouse's retail experience.
Westgold Resources saw a decrease of 8.39%, bringing shares down to $2.84, while Bellevue Gold dropped 7.67% to $1.38.
The Energy sector performed strongest, increasing by 2.29%, with Woodside up 3.24%, Santos rising 2.41% and Yancoal gaining just over 1%. Real Estate lagged, falling by 2.11% today and marking a 5.3% decline over the past month.
Gains among the small cap sector were registered by AuKing Mining Ltd (ASX:AKN), which increased as much as 40% to $0.007, Tryptamine Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:TYP, OTC:TYPTF) hit a new high of more than 18 months at $0.043, up 16.22% on the previous close, Magnetite Mines Ltd (ASX:MGT) was up 11.11% to $0.15, Gold Hydrogen Ltd (ASX:GHY) followed a 6.88% increase yesterday with another 10.87% jump to $0.765, Lightning Minerals Ltd (ASX:L1M) increased 7.14% to $0.075 and Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB, OTC:CBBHF) was 6.4% higher intra-day to $0.10.