The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) is trading lower today, despite some better-than-expected domestic economic growth numbers being released.
At lunchtime, the benchmark index had fallen 0.40% to 5,690 points and was being weighed down a by a number of shares trading ex-dividend including Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN).
However, a number of shares have managed to post solid gains today, including:
Clean TeQ Holdings Limited (ASX: CLQ)
The Clean TeQ share price has surged more than 7.3% today after the company announced it has formed a strategic partnership with a leading Chinese conglomerate to fast track the development of its nickel-cobalt project in New South Wales. Pengxin Mining will invest $81 million in the company and will also assist in the procurement of Chinese project financing for the project. Remarkably, shares of Clean TeQ have rallied more than 487% over the past 12 months as investors have gravitated towards anything associated with cobalt.
Vita Group Limited (ASX: VTG)
The Vita Group share price is enjoying its second consecutive day of strong gains with a rise of more than 4.7% to $3.32. The telecommunications retailer posted a solid interim result yesterday and investors are undoubtedly cheering the board's decision to increase the interim dividend by 60% to 9.2 cents per share. Despite the recent share price rally, Vita Group shares are still trading 40% below their 52-week high of $5.47.
Macmahon Holdings Limited (ASX: MAH)
The Macmahon Holdings share price has surged more than 13% to 17 cents today after the mining services company announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement with Indonesian mining group, PT AMNT. The agreement will see PT AMNT take a 40%-50.1% stake in Macmahon in return for assets worth US$150 million and a mining contract worth around US$2 billion. This is quite an interesting development as its makes Cimic Group Ltd's (ASX: CIM) 14.5 cent per share hostile takeover bid less attractive.
Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR)
The Dicker Data share price has climbed more than 3% today after the computer hardware company announced it expects to increase FY17 dividends by 5.5% to 16.4 cents per share. The company also said it expects to generate FY17 revenue growth of just under 10%, which is broadly in line with the previous year's growth. At the current share price of $2.45, investor can therefore expect a dividend yield of around 6.7% over the next 12 months.
