The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) resumed its 2016 descent today, falling 0.7%.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.7%
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.8%
- AUD/USD at US 69.07 cents
- Iron Ore at US$40.20 according to The Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,092.03 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$28.25 a barrel
The local sharemarket got off to a slow start, falling hard after losses on international markets on Friday, but recovered slightly before the close of trade. Plunging oil prices saw energy shares hit hard.
The S&P/ASX 200 Energy (Index: ^XEJ) (ASX: XEJ) index fell 3.5% today and is down 12.1% for the year so far. Leading the charge lower were shares of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Sundance Energy Australia Ltd (ASX: SEA) and Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) – falling 16%, 8.5% and 5%, respectively.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) and Henderson Group plc (ASX: HGG) fell 6.2% and 4.75%, respectively.
Among the ASX's gainers were Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) (up 7.6%), Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) (up 4.6%) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) (up 2%). The catalyst behind the jump in their share prices was the announcement by Woolworths to sell its Home Improvement business.
The share prices of Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and UGL Limited (ASX: UGL) rose 6.5% and 5%, respectively.
Here are Monday's top stories:
- Woolworths Limited to sell Masters Home Improvement
- Why the Ziptel Ltd share price is soaring today
- Brokers still tipping 2016 to end up 21%
- 2 bargain shares to load up on while the market is down
- Is now a good time to buy Westpac Banking Corp shares?
- Why I would have kept Masters if I was Woolworths
