Market Close: ASX glass gets a top up as BHP stars on the bourse

The ASX200 closed up just under half a per cent.

Materials led the rally and finished more than a per cent up – whilst communication and healthcare dropped off the pace.

BHP Group was a standout stock – the company shot up nearly one and a half per cent.

In the green

BHP Group (ASX:BHP) was up more than 2 per cent at one stage after posting its latest quarterly report.

The company says its copper and iron ore deliveries are on track to meet guidance, while coal production slipped.

The company has deferred a final decision on plans for its WA-based Nickel West operations to August.

BHP closed at $45.09. 

Triangle Energy (ASX:TEG) gained nearly 6 per cent as it prepares to spud its Booth-1 well in the Perth Basin to kick off FY25.

The well will be drilled by the Ventia 106 rig in the North Perth Basin within the eastern part of the L7 permit area.

The landholding is estimated to hold around 113 billion cubic feet of gas (Bcf).

Strike Energy and New Zealand Oil & Gas each hold a 25% stake in L7 as part of a joint venture.

TEG closed at 1.8 cents.

And Mount Gibson Iron (ASX:MGX) shot up around 6 per cent, also on its quarterly report revealing it had clocked up $130 million worth of ore sales in the first three months of the calendar year.

It also reiterated its original production guidance.

The company rounded up the quarter with $430 million in cash and investment reserves.

MGX closed at 47.5 cents.

In the red

Healthcare suffered the most today. The sector shed just over half a per cent as healthcare giants dragged: CSL (ASX:CSL) was down around half a per cent and Resmed (ASX:RMD) shed nearly 4 and a half per cent.

Microcap explorer Celsius Resources (ASX:CLA) lost more than 15 per cent after announcing substantial Canadian shareholder Silvercorp is participating in a placement on the London-based Alternative Investment Market.

Celsius and Silvercorp have a deal whereby Silvercorp can participate in future equity offers so long as Silvercorp retains a stake in the company above 10 per cent. 

Silvercorp recently failed in its bid to take over ASX-listed Orecorp, losing out to Perseus Mining. 

Celsius closed at 1.1 cents.

And mineral explorer OD6 Metals (ASX: OD6) shed nearly 3 per cent despite reporting a grade jump of 224 per cent in total rare earth oxides (TREO) at its West Australian Splinter Rock project.

The company said testing work had delivered desirable results commensurate with future plans for Splinter Rock.

OD6 closed at 7.1c.