** Oil and gas explorer Central Petroleum Ltd risesas much as 33.3 pct to A$0.140, its highest since June 23, 2017** Australian Competition and Consumer Commission releases adraft decision proposing to authorise joint gas marketingarrangements between Central Petroleum Ltd and MacquarieMereenie, owned by Australian based provider of financialservices Macquarie Group Ltd** Says it granted interim authorisation to allow the cos tostart negotiating joint supply deals with customers and to allowjoint marketing for 3 years, pending a final decision** On Thursday, co's unit won Queensland Government's tenderacreage on which co and Australia-based explosives manufacturerIncitec Pivot will set up a 50:50 joint venture ** About 8.4 mln shares change hands, compared with the30-day average of 1.6 mln shares
** Up to Thursday's close, stock had risen 10.5 pct thisyear
** Stock posts its biggest intraday pct gain since Nov. 2016
** Australia's Macquarie Group Ltd falls as much as 0.72 pctto A$102.190
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