A sharp fall endured by the mining sector acted as a drag on the broader market today, with the ASX 200 slipping further away from the 5,500-point mark. That said, it did recover somewhat in the afternoon.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.1% to 5474 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.1% to 5555 points
- AUD/USD at US 75.78 cents
- Iron Ore at US$57.68 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,256.96 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$52.59 a barrel
Mining heavyweights BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) fell 1.5% and 1.6% respectively. Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) fell 2.9% and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) lost 0.4%.
The gold miners were mixed, but most finished in the red. Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) lost 4.8% and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) dropped 3.2%.
Telecommunications giant Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) fell another 2.5% following the loss of more directors.
OFX Group Ltd (ASX: OFX) also fell 7.9% and Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) dropped 4%.
Vitamin maker Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) ended the day as one of the best performing shares. It rose 2.6%.
Here are Wednesday's top stories:
- Crash: Executive resignations shock Vocus Communications Limited investors
- Here's why Slater & Gordon Limited shares have been hammered today
- Here's what's behind Whitehaven Coal Ltd's blistering 680% rally
- Here's why the death of ASX yield stocks has been greatly exaggerated
- 4 more shares tumbling on the ASX today
- In your 40s? 3 stocks to consider buying
- Is it time to go bargain hunting in the aged care sector?
