The ASX traded higher this morning.
The S&P/ASX200 gained 9.60 points or 0.13% to 7,423.30. This set a new 20-day high.
Over the last five days, the index has gained 1.53% and is currently 2.74% off its 52-week high.
The top-performing stocks in the S&P/ASX200 at time of writing were Perpetual Limited up 8.14% and Cimic Group Limited up 6.77%.
BlueScope and Aristocrat also led gains, with Aristocrat up more than 5% at $48.20 after raising funds for its Playtech buy and BlueScope gaining 2% at $20.61 on its bullish outlook.
On the down curve were Woodside which lost 0.1% despite a positive quarterly update and Crown Resorts.
As we reported this morning Crown was forced to withdraw a resolution at its AGM offering shareholders to vote on the appointment of proposed new chairman Ziggy Switkowski.
The leisure and entertainment giant also avoided a board spill, as 95% of proxy shareholders voted against a conditional spill resolution.
"It appears that the spill resolution will not pass. We would like to thank shareholders for our reconstituted board as we continue to drive the reforms necessary to restore confidence and trust in Crown," Crown interim chairman Jane Halton said.
On the sector front, Real Estate, Materials and Financials offset falls.
Mandatory jabs for supermarket workers
Australia’s major supermarkets will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all staff.
Aldi Australia chief executive Tom Daunt has stated that vaccinated employees are less likely to contract the virus than unvaccinated employees, and also less likely to pass the virus onto consumers.
"With these factors in mind, our view is that requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future is the best measure to ensure the health and safety of our teams and our customers.
"We have commenced consultation with all of our employees to gather their input to our proposed safety plans and the best implementation timeline.
"Following this consultation and consideration of the feedback provided, we will announce our plans to all employees. We expect this process to take a couple of weeks."
Coles will mandate jabs for staff in Victoria, NSW and the ACT.
"We have worked hand-in-hand with health authorities and adopted their recommended safety measures, allowing us to keep our 120,000-plus team members and millions of customers safe," Coles said.
"As people are able to circulate more freely in NSW, ACT and Victoria, health authorities have warned that COVID case numbers in these states are expected to increase, which also means a higher risk of positive cases visiting our stores.
"We have encouraged and supported our team members to access vaccinations as soon as they became eligible, to reduce the risk of infection for themselves, their colleagues and their families."
Woolworths was first to move on a ‘no jab, no job’ policy, with the mandate to affect 170,000 staff across its retail supermarkets and Big W stores.
Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said, “We have a clear obligation to provide our team members with the safest possible work environment as we supply the food and essential needs our communities rely on.”
The supermarkets join other major companies including Qantas, Virgin, Telstra, BHP, Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank to make vaccinations mandatory.
Wesfarmers is also in the mix. The private entity employs over 100,000 staff.
“We are seeing great progress by hosting information sessions, offering support and making vaccination accessible including through vaccine hubs and paid vaccination leave,” Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott said.
“We will also be requiring new team members joining our businesses to be vaccinated.
"This is all about creating a safer workplace for our team and customers.”
Woolworths and Coles were trading just shy of 1% down after the announcement.
On the small cap front
Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) is up 4.17% on the back of a very positive quarterly report.
Australian Potash Ltd (ASX:APC) is up 3.85%. APC announced its support for indigenous communities, via the Laverton Training Centre (LTC), an initiative that supports its Indigenous Engagement Strategy and broader regional development goals.
Future Metals NL (ASX:FME) is up 2.44% at time of writing after announcing it had been granted admission to trade on the AIM.
European Lithium Ltd (ASX:EUR) is up 2% today following yesterday’s announcement that it had advanced its definitive feasibility study (DFS) for Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria with the appointment of the leading consultant for the study, DRA Global.
Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX, OTCQX:BLSTF) was up 1.74% at time of writing. BSX has partnered with Circulor Ltd, a UK-headquartered industry leader in supply chain traceability, to establish a full Nickel and Cathode Precursor (PCAM) traceability system with dynamic carbon dioxide equivalent and environmental, social and governance tracking for its Vietnam Ta Khoa assets, a first in South-East Asia.