The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is well and truly back on form on Friday. In morning trade, the benchmark index is up 1% to 7,420.2 points.
Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are jumping:
EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML)
The EML Payments share price is up a further 9% to 99 cents. Investors have been buying this payments company's shares this week after it announced plans to close down its loss-making PFS Card Services Ireland business. Management advised that it will now be closed to new business and wound down in a professional and orderly manner.
Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)
The Jumbo Interactive share price is up 6% to $14.77. This appears to have been driven by news that the next Powerball jackpot will be the second largest in history at $150 million. This will be good news for this lottery ticket seller, which clips the ticket on each sale through its platform.
Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)
The Mesoblast share price is up 16% to 30.75 cents. Investors have been fighting to buy the biotechnology company's shares today after it was given some positive news from the US FDA. The regulator has granted its allogeneic cell therapy Revascor (rexlemestrocel-L) a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation. This follows the submission of results from the randomised controlled trial in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which is a potentially life-threatening congenital heart condition.
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)
The Whitehaven Coal share price is up over 5% to $8.23. This morning, this coal miner released its second quarter update. While managed run-of-mine (ROM) production came in 6% lower quarter on quarter at 5.0Mt, the company reported a 21% increase in total equity sales of produced coal to 3.7Mt for the three months.
