The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed the lead of Wall Street and is pushing higher. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.4% to 7,203.5 points.
Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:
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Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)
The Beach Energy share price is up 2.5% to $1.69. Investors appear pleased that Beach has decided to withdraw from the race to acquire Warrego Energy Ltd (ASX: WGO). Beach will instead expand its current active exploration drilling program in the Perth Basin. It believes the bidding war demonstrates that the area is one of the most exciting gas plays in Australia.
Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)
The Chalice Mining share price is up 4% to $6.56. Investors have been buying this mineral exploration company's shares this week following the release of promising drilling results from the Julimar Complex in Western Australia. Drilling at the greenfield Hooley Prospect, ~5km north of the current Gonneville Resource, has intersected a significant PGE-nickel-copper-cobalt-gold mineralisation.
Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO)
The Nitro Software share price is up 2.5% to $2.11. This morning the company revealed that Potentia has increased its takeover offer by 10% to $2.00 cash per share. However, this is still lower than where Nitro's shares trade today. This could be a sign that investors expect a further bid to be made.
Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)
The Rio Tinto share price is up almost 3% to $117.59. This follows another rise in the benchmark iron ore price overnight to beyond US$110 a tonne. Not even news that Morgans has downgraded this mining giant's shares to a hold rating has been able to stop its ascent. Morgans said: "Despite stable fundamentals, reduced value upside leaves us neutral on the large iron ore miners."
