The ASX All Ordinaries eroded slightly to 5385 points as weak sessions for mining and oil and gas stocks dragged on the index.
The materials and energy sectors were down 1.2% and 2.3%, respectively, as other major markets seemed to tread water.
The malaise, however, only helped to emphases the more spunky plays of the day ….
…. MARKET ACTION
Shares in White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) spiked as much as 50% today before finishing 25% stronger at A$0.01 on a heavily oversubscribed share placement plan aimed at funding future drilling at some outstanding gold prospects.
This closing price marks a 67% improvement for the stock since last month.
The company received applications exceeding $1.5 million as investors clamoured for exposure to the company’s growing Aucu project in the Kyrgyz Republic, where some of the latest trenching has delivered exceptionally high grades.
Recent exploration at the project has established a fourth major mineralised system containing high-grade gold at surface.
Trenching assays recorded 3 metres at 23.8g/t gold, including 1 metre at 53.6g/t gold.
Mineralisation at Aucu has consistently demonstrated visible gold and reinforced the reputation of the surrounding region for hosting rich gold endowments.
A number of operating mines are within 50 kilometres of the site, including Charaat Gold’s (AIM:CGH) 6-million-ounce Charaat mine and Fortune LLC’s 5-million-ounce Ishtamberdy mine.
Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX:PIQ) shares also soared 26.5% today to $0.43 after the company was granted a U.S. patent for its PromarkerD Diagnostic Test for the early diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
The patent is a critical milestone in the development of the Diagnostic Test for Diabetic Kidney Disease in the world’s largest health care market.
The patent provides protection as both a predictive and diagnostic test in the United States.
The test was developed from the company’s world-leading proprietary proteomics-based technology platform.
AND NOW THE BLUE CHIPS
Major miners
BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) down 0.9% to $24.34
Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) down 9.0% to $2.33
Newcrest (ASX:NCM) down 1.1% to $13.64
Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) down 1.8% to $52.81
Energy or Oil and Gas
Oil Search (ASX:OSH) down 0.3% to $7.58
Santos (ASX:STO) down 1.2% to $6.34
Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) down 2.5% to $30.30
Big 4 banks
ANZ Bank (ASX:ANZ) up 0.1% to $28.94
Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) up 0.3% to $77.74
National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) flat at $32.42
Westpac (ASX:WBC) down 0.2% to $31.77
Other banks, financials and industrials
AMP (ASX:AMP) down 0.7% to $5.81
Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) up 0.4% to $13.76
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (ASX:BEN) up 1.8% to $10.85
Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) up 0.8% to $83.31
Suncorp (ASX:SUN) down 0.9% to $13.24
Telstra (ASX:TLS) up 0.2% to $5.52
Retailers
JB Hi-FI (ASX:JBH) down 0.4% to $18.65
Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) up 1.1% to $41.93
Woolworths (ASX:WOW) up 0.1% to $27.87
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