Best and worst stocks on the ASX today

Ben Bernanke kicks off the Santa Rally, with the ASX soaring 2.1%

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The S&P / ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has soared 2.1% to 5,202.2, following the lead of US markets overnight. The Dow Jones climbed 1.8%, while the S&P 500 rose 1.7%, following the US Federal Reserve's announcement that it would cut back its easing program by $10 billion a month to a still impressive $75 billion.

Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index today.

  • Caltex Australia (ASX: CTX) gained 13.1% to $19.12
  • Fleetwood Corporation (ASX: FWD) climbed 10% to $2.65
  • BlueScope Steel (ASX: BSL) rose 8.5% to $5.60
  • Silver Lake Resources (ASX: SLR) added 7.5% to 43 cents
  • Sirius Resources (ASX: SIR) closed up 6.8% to $2.12

These stocks were the losers on the day.

  • Wotif.com Holdings (ASX: WTF) dropped 10.9% to $2.54
  • Forge Group (ASX: FGE) dipped 4.2% to 57.5 cents
  • Kingsgate Consolidated (ASX: KCN) fell 2.6% to 95 cents
  • SMS Management & Technology (ASX: SMX) lost 1.6% to $3.74
  • Beadell Resources (ASX:BDR) closed down 1.3% at 75 cents
Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King owns shares in Silver Lake, Sirius, Forge and Beadell. You can follow Mike on Twitter @TMFKinga

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