The local bourse has headed higher this morning despite a weak lead from Wall Street overnight where the major indices all ended flat. At 12.09 pm the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) was 0.67% higher, which makes up for yesterday's loss.
News that the unemployment rate steadied in February has been a positive influence today, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting solid growth in full-time employment which was balanced by an increase in the participation rate.
All sectors are showing gains with the materials and information technology sectors particularly strong performers.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index as at 12:10 pm today:
- Sirius Resources N.L. (ASX: SIR) has jumped 9.2% to $2.73
- Reject Shop Ltd (ASX: TRS) has rallied 6% to $10.91
- Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) has risen 6% to $2.66
- Aquila Resources Limited (ASX: AQA) has added 5.8% to $2.54
- Energy World Corporation Ltd. (ASX: EWC) has gained 5.4% to 29.5 cents
These are the five worst performing stocks as at 12:10 pm today:
- Lynas Corporation Limited (ASX: LYC) has slipped 2% to 24 cents
- Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd. (ASX: DMP) has lost 2% to $20.98
- Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (ASX: FOX) has dropped 1.7% to $35.30
- Mermaid Marine Australia Limited (ASX: MRM) has declined 1.3% to $2.19
- M2 Group Ltd (ASX: MTU) is down 1.3% to $6.01
