Best and worst stocks on the ASX today

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has closed down 1% at 5,428.6, with all sectors falling into the red, following on from losses on overseas markets overnight. For the week, the index is flat, despite a number of heavy falls. It's no surprise that the information technology sector suffered the most today, dropping 2.5%, while gold and consumer staples also took a couple of big hits. Just 25 stocks in the index managed to post a gain.

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

• Echo Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: EGP) soared 12% to $2.70
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) climbed 4.7% to 45 cents
• Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) gained 3.9% to 66.5 cents
• Mount Gibson Iron Limited (ASX: MGX) added 2.4% to 84.5 cents
• Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) closed up 2.2% to $3.76

These are five of the worst performing stocks today:

• Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) dropped 6.6% to $12.12
• Buru Energy Limited (ASX: BRU) fell 6.3% to $1.195
• Bradken Limited (ASX: BKN) slipped 4.4% to $4.59
• Veda Group Ltd (ASX: VED) lost4.3% to $2.22
• Carsales.com Limited (ASX: CRZ) closed down 4.1% at $10.45