The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed slight higher today at 0.4 percent as Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) overcame a late rally to reach 1.9 percent gains after some positive annoucements.

As buyers swoop up Iron ore stocks following an upgrade to “buy” status by UBS, BHP Group (ASX:BHP) moved 0.9 per cent, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) improved 1.4 percent and Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) closed 3.9 per cent higher to round up the strong performers from this sector.

Across the other blue chips, CSL (ASX:CSL) and Telstra (ASX:TLS) both improved slightly at 0.8 percent and 1.3 percent respectively.

Regional Express Holdings (ASX:REX) took the top gainers spot today with a resounding 32 percent increase as the travel sector began its route to recovery after easing of travelling lockdown measures.

Regional Express Holdings (ASX:REX)
The company made an announcement today releasing to the ASX that Regional Express has been approached by several parties that are interested in providing the equity needed for it to start domestic operations in Australia. The insiders of the company currently hold 18% and Trading volume was almost 17 times the 20-day average. The shares increased 32% to A$1.19 from 90 Australian cents in the previous session. The company’s dividend yield is 9.4 percent on a trailing 12-month basis.

Moelis Australia (ASX:MOE)
The shares increased to A$3.25 from A$2.78 in the previous session. Insiders hold a 20 percent stake. In the past six months, they increased their holdings by 1.3 percent. Officers and directors disclosed no open market purchases or sales in the past six months. The company released an operational update today highlight that the company had as of the 30 April 2020, Net Assets of $191.9 million including $134.3 million cash and over $155 million of investments.

American Pacific Borates (ASX:ABR)
The shares increased to 45 Australian cents from 39 Australian cents in the previous session. Trading volume was 85 percent above the 20-day average. Insiders hold a 2.8 percent stake. The company traded A$610,474 worth of shares today.

TerraCom (ASX:TER)
Trading volume was 49 percent above the 20-day average. The shares increased to 15 Australian cents from 13 Australian cents in the previous session. Insiders hold a 0.5 percent stake. In the past six months, they increased their holdings by 35 percent. Officers and directors disclosed 1.03 million shares of open market purchases at an average price of 17 Australian cents a share and no sales.

Comet Ridge (ASX:COI)
The shares increased to 9 Australian cents from 8 Australian cents in the previous session. Insiders hold a 3.6 percent stake. In the past six months, they increased their holdings by 2 percent. Officers and directors disclosed 400,000 shares of open market purchases at an average price of 19 Australian cents a share and no sales. Comet Ridge declined 70 percent in the past 52 weeks.

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The S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.1 percent today to end its winning streak amidst rising tensions with China and major sell-off in shares.

The Mining sector, particularly iron ore, as Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) lost 3.2 percent, BHP Group (ASX:BHP) shaved off 2.6 percent and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) reduced 1.7 percent.

The big Banks all went under with National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) and ANZ (ASX:ANZ) both registering 2.9 percent and 2 percent losses respectively.

The Energy sector suffered the most after ending the trading session with Oil Search (ASX:OSH) losing 4.5 percent and Santos (ASX:STO) closing 3.2 percent lower.

Health Care was the most thriving sector today with CSL (ASX:CSL) making 1.8 percent and Resmed (ASX:RMD) gaining 5.2 percent.

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL (ASX:MHJ)
The shares increased 21 % to 40 Australian cents from 33 Australian cents in the previous session. Trading volume was more than triple the 20-day average. Since Emma Hill has been chairman the company has lost 21.44% total annualized return since July 2016.

STATE GAS (ASX:GAS)
The shares increased 21% to 49 Australian cents from 41 Australian cents in the previous session. The company only trade A$ 11,891 worth of shares and has now reached a market cap of 71.7m. Since the COO Andrew Crowley joined the company in July 2018 the company has done 79.36% in total annualized return for its shareholders.

RESONANCE HEALTH (ASX:RHT)
Resonance Health Ltd. rose 17 percent while the country’s benchmark index declined. Trading volume was triple the average for this time of day. In the past year, the stock had a similar or greater gain five times at the close; it advanced in the next trading session once (8.3 percent) and declined three times (5.1 percent, on average). Insiders hold a 1.7 percent stake.

CLEARVIEW WEALTH (ASX:CVW)
The shares increased to 28 Australian cents from 25 Australian cents in the previous session. Clearview Wealth declined 65 percent in the past 52 weeks. The Australia S&P/ASX 200 lost 14 percent. Insiders hold a 5.8 percent stake. In the past six months, they increased their holdings by 0.3 percent. Officers and directors disclosed 108,754 shares of open market purchases at an average price of 27 Australian cents a share and no sales.

PRO-PAC PACKAGING (ASX:PPG)
The company advanced 12% today to 15 Australian cents from 13 Australian cents in the previous trading session. Insiders hold a 1 percent stake. In the past six months, they increased their holdings by 18 percent. Officers and directors disclosed 1.26 million shares of open market purchases at an average price of 11 Australian cents a share and no sales. The company released a change in directors notice today for Leonie Valentine who acquire 352,000 shares at $0.14 cent per share via an on-market purchase.

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The S&P/ASX 200 closed 1.3 percent higher owing to the positive outlook on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with loosening of lockdown measures gradually across Australia. This good showing was hot on the heels of last week’s 2.8 percent week-to-date performance.

Afterpay (ASX:APT) surges ahead two weeks in a row with an 8 percent increase today amidst the growing unemployment numbers in the United States as it went past 14.7 percent today. The stock has climbed 380 percent since the reversal in fortunes on 23 March, equivalent to around AUD 9 billion in added market value.

At mid-day, Webjet (ASX:WEB) was up 21.2 percent to lead the charts, Southern Cross Media Group (ASX:SXL) added 9.3%, AP Eagers (ASX:APE) took 9% while Pendal Group (ASX:PDL) and Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX:FLT) gained 8.2 percent and 7.8 percent respectively.

Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG), Afterpay (ASX:APT), Auckland Airport (ASX:AIA), Treasury Wines Estates (ASX:TWE) and Cochlear (ASX:COH) all ended between 5-10 percent on closing.

Energy sector rebounded slightly with Woodside Petroleum (WPL), Santos (ASX:STO), and Oil Search Limited (ASX:OSH) all firming 2.2 percent, 1.9 percent, and 1.7 percent respectively.

ARCHER MATERIALS (ASX:AXE)
Archer Materials advances 42% to all time high. The shares increased to 46 Australian cents from 33 Australian cents in the previous session. Archer Materials announced today that the company’s exclusively licensed European patent application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty to protect and commercialise intellectual property associated to the 12CQ quantum computing chip materials technology (“IP”), has now proceeded to the substantial examination stage in Europe.

MOSAIC BRANDS (ASX:MOZ)
Mosaic Brands Ltd. rose 32 percent, more than 20 times the country’s benchmark index. Trading volume was five times the average for this time of day. Wilsons analyst John Hynd cut the recommendation on Mosaic Brands Ltd. to market-weight from overweight on the 8th of May 2020. 

SKY NETWORK TELEVISION (ASX:SKT)
Sky Network Television Ltd. rose 32 percent, the biggest move since the company’s IPO on 2005-07-04, more than 20 times the country’s benchmark index. Trading volume was double the average for this time of day. The shares are up 39 percent in the past 5 days and rose 52 percent in the past 30 days.

RMA GLOBAL (ASX:RMY)
The shares increased to 35 Australian cents from 27 Australian cents in the previous session. Last week Bell Potter raised their price target by 20%.  

IVE GROUP (ASX:IGL)
The shares increased to 93 Australian cents from 77 Australian cents in the previous session. In the past year, the stock had a similar or greater gain three times at the close; it advanced in the next trading session twice (9.2 percent, on average) and declined once (2.9 percent). The CEO who has been running the company since 5th of August 2019 has seen the share price decline by 63.94% since taking the position.

Honourable Mention: 
RECCE PHARMACEUTICALS (ASX:RCE)
The shares increased to 49 Australian cents from 41 Australian cents in the previous session. Trading volume was 88 percent above the 20-day average. Stock advanced 149 percent in the past 52 weeks. The Australia S&P/ASX 200 lost 13 percent. Since the Chairman Dr. John Prendergast has been onboard the company has advanced 155%. James Graham has provided shareholders a total annualized return of 22.52% since he has been onboard since 2016.

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