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The ASX200 closed up 0.18% at 8,300 points.
The iron ore price has lifted to US$100.15 in Singapore and this flowed through to the big miners with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) closing up 2.3% at $116.41, BHP (ASX:BHP) closing up 1.1% at $40.50 and Fortescue (ASX:FMG) finishing the session up 1.35% at $17.97.
To the sectors, Staples has been the strongest performer, up 1.95%, followed by Utilities, up 1.8% and Energy, up 1.5%. Health Care was the biggest loser, down 0.9%, followed by IT, down 0.8% and Financials, down 0.3%.
In the Green
Echo IQ (ASX:EIQ) closed up 8.9% on news it’s integrating its EchoSolv-AS solution with Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School affiliate. This is the company’s first major deployment in the US after recent FDA clearance.
Echo IQ closed at 24.5 cents.
Spectur (ASX:SP3) closed up 13.3% after winning a contract with Transport for New South Wales. The deal covers cameras and analytics services, with an initial three-year term valued at more than $785,000.
Spectur finished the session at 1.7 cents.
Santana Minerals (ASX:SMI) closed up 8% on news the Fast Track Approvals bill is progressing through the New Zealand parliament. The company says its a significant step towards attracting foreign investment.
Santana Minerals closed at 54 cents.
In the Red
Island Pharmaceuticals (ASX:ILA) closed down 8.3% after reporting progress in its clinical trial aimed at dengue fever. The company has successfully collected all necessary data samples after dosing subjects in the Phase 2a segment of the trial.
Island Pharmaceuticals closed at 16.5 cents.
Life360 (ASX:360) closed down 6.7% on news the company’s founder and CEO Chris Hulls has sold $18.4 million worth of shares or 1.2% of his holding.
Life360 closed at $21.22.
Latitude 66 (ASX:LAT) finished the session down 30.0% after a ruling by the Administrative Court of Northern Finland. The Court upheld an appeal regarding mining rights over the company’s KSB Project in Finland. Investors reacted negatively to the news.
Latitude 66 closed at 6.3 cents.
