The S&P / ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has closed up 0.3% at 5,017.1, with the gold sector rising 3.9% on the back of a jump in the spot gold price overnight. Energy was the worst performing sector, dropping 0.9%.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index.
- Sirius Resources (ASX:SIR) jumped 13% to $2.34
- Transfield Services (ASX:TSE) rose 6.7% to 96 cents
- PanAust Limited (ASX:PNA) added 5.6% to $1.995
- Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) continues its recovery, rising 5.4% to $12.60
- Alacer Gold Corp (ASX:AQG) rose 5.3% to $2.80.
These stocks were the losers on the day.
- Resolute Mining (ASX:RSG) dropped 6.3% to 75 cents
- Atlas Iron Limited (ASX:AGO) fell 6.2% to 83.5 cents
- Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU) lost 5.5% to 60 cents
- Aquila Resources (ASX:AQA) ended at $2.09, down 3.2%
- Medusa Mining (ASX:MML) also closed down 3.2% at $2.13.
Interested in our #1 dividend-paying stock? Discover The Motley Fool's favourite income idea for 2013-2014 in our brand-new, FREE research report, including a full investment analysis! Simply click here for your FREE copy of "The Motley Fool's Top Dividend Stock for 2013-2014."
More reading
- Australia's most trusted brands
- Australia: The next Saudi Arabia?
- Should you buy Telstra?
- A Masters class for investors
Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King owns shares in Sirius Resources.