The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has posted a gain of 0.26% today following a positive lead from US markets. Overnight the Dow Jones was up 0.46%, while the S&P 500 rose 0.7% after the release of figures showing U.S. factory output continued to expand.
Investors appeared more confident after yesterday's decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia to maintain interest rates at record lows and after the release of data today showing the trend of building approvals remained strong in February.
The materials and consumer discretionary sectors were the standout performers today, registering gains of 0.72% and 0.83% respectively. Most other sectors were higher, with the exceptions of information technology and property.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index today:
- PanAust Limited (ASX: PNA) jumped 8.1% to $1.67
- Evolution FPO (ASX: EVN) rallied 5.5% to 86 cents
- OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) climbed 3.9% to $3.77
- Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (ASX: FOX) added 3.4% to $34.55
- Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) gained 3.4% to 45.5 cents
These stocks were the losers on the day: