The S&P / ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has closed above 5,000 for the first time since May, rising 0.6% to finish at 5,001.9, with gold miners surging on the back of a rising gold price. Positive news out of Japan and further reforms to open up China's financial system spurred the market higher.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index – with the top five all being gold miners.
- Medusa Mining (ASX:MML) rocketed up 20.9% to $2.20
- Resolute Mining (ASX:RSG) climbed 16.8% to 80 cents
- Silver Lake Resources (ASX:SLR) added 16% to 83.5 cents
- Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU) rose 14.4% to 63.5 cents
- Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) ended up 13.5% at 80 cents.
These stocks were the losers on the day.
- Leighton Holdings (ASX:LEI) lost 5.1% to end at $16.32
- Ten Network Holdings (ASX:TEN) fell 4.4% to 28 cents
- Virgin Australia Hioldings (ASX:VAH) dropped 3.2% to 45 cents
- Orica (ASX:ORI) fell 3.2% to $17.61
- Incitec Pivot (ASX:IPL) closed down 2.9% at $2.69
In the market for high yielding ASX shares? Get "3 Stocks for the Great Dividend Boom" in our special FREE report. Click here now to find out the names, stock symbols, and full research for our three favourite income ideas, all completely free!
More reading
- Better Buy: David Jones or Myer?
- Will falling supply drive the gold price up?
- Should you buy Telstra?
- Billabong: Dud stock or deep value play?
Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King owns shares in Silver Lake and Leighton.