Best and worst stocks on the ASX today

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has finished the day up 0.51% following a strong lead overnight from US markets where the Dow Jones rallied 1.1%, and the S&P 500 rose 1%.

Markets in the region were also stronger, with the Nikkei and Hang Seng showing gains. On the local bourse all sectors enjoyed gains. Gold stocks meanwhile were sold off heavily.

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

• Wotif.com Holdings Limited (ASX: WTF) rallied 6.6% to $2.44
• Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) jumped 5.4% to $3.54
• Acrux Limited (ASX: ACR) climbed 5% to $1.79
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) rose 4.9% to 53.5 cents
• Mermaid Marine Australia Limited (ASX: MRM) gained 4.8% to $2.39

These stocks were the losers on the day.

• Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) sunk 9.6% to 66 cents
• Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) dropped 7.8% to 71 cents
• Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) lost 7.6% to $11.23
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) fell 6.8% to $1.23
• Evolution FPO (ASX: EVN) declined 6% to 93.5 cents