ASX 200 drops again: 13 shares you should have been watching

Local shares struggled to gain traction today with the main bourse ending the session in the red once again. That said, it did manage to recover some of its losses late in the day.

Here's a quick recap:

• S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.4% to 5678 points
• ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.4% to 5733 points
• AUD/USD at US 75.49 cents
• Iron Ore at US$81.55 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
• Gold at US$1,215.09 an ounce
• Brent oil at US$55.64 a barrel

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) said it expects its resources business to report earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) between $135 million and $140 million for the first half of FY17, exceeding previous guidance. Its shares rose 0.2%.

Cash Converters International Ltd (ASX: CCV) announced a number of strategic management changes. Its current CEO, Peter Cumins, will move to the role of Executive Deputy Chairman while Mark Reid, its current CEO Australia, will become the new group CEO. Cash Converters' shares fell 2.7%.

Technology business Integrated Research Limited (ASX: IRI) shares soared 8.1% after it released its half-year profit guidance.

Shares of Nanosonics Ltd. (ASX: NAN) retreated another 3.6%, more than erasing its recent gains following a strong quarterly earnings result.

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) also fell another 1.1%, with fellow blue chips Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) down 0.5% and 0.6%, as well.

The major banks acted as a weight on the broader market, too. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) fell 0.8% and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) retreated 1%.

Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) was the top performing share on the ASX 200 today, followed by St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) and Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE). The trio gained 14%, 6.3% and 6.1%, respectively.

Almond producer Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV) didn't fare so well, falling 5%.

Here are Wednesday's top stories:

1. 10 shares I would avoid in 2017
2. Leading broker rates these 3 ASX shares a BUY
3. Pot stock MMJ Phytotech Ltd isn't just lighting up the ASX
4. Will President Trump help or hinder Australia's gold miners?
5. 2 under-the-radar shares with huge growth potential
6. Why the Treasury Wine Estates Ltd share price is soaring today
7. Why gold miner St Barbara Ltd went gangbusters today