The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has continued its rally into Friday morning as global markets remain calm after overtures from the US Federal Reserve that it will cease its quantitative easing bond-buying program over the coming months.
Leading the charge higher today has been a mixed bag of stocks many of which have been heavily sold down in the prior few months.
Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) has led the charge higher amongst stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 index today with its share price gaining 6.4% by lunchtime. The stock has had a torrid few months with the share price down 20.7% since the beginning of August. However, the release of Regis' Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report appears to have improved investor sentiment towards the stock with the report showing the gold miner achieved record gold production of 88,818 ounces at a pre-royalty cash cost of $745 per ounce.
Meanwhile Henderson Group plc (ASX: HGG) shares are trading 5.8% higher thanks to a solid third quarter Interim Management Statement released to the ASX after close of trade on Thursday night. The UK-based fund manager reported a 2.5% rise in assets under management (AUM) and strong investment performance with 71% of Henderson's funds able to outperform over the past 12 months. With the stock recently touching a 52-week low, today's gains have reduced the decline since August to 18%.
There's no specific news from Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX: SXL), however, with the stock price down 21% in the last three months, it's likely today's 3.8% gain relates to investors looking to snap up a bargain. Southern Cross' share price has already bounced strongly off its recent bottom of 79 cents a few days ago to be trading today at 96 cents.
Chemicals and explosive group Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) is also amongst the top ten gainers at lunchtime today with its share price up around 3.5%. While there has been no market update since the announcement in August that the company would pursue a separation of its chemicals division, the rally in resource stocks is likely to be flowing over to Orica which is a major input supplier into the mining production chain.
