The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has finished the Thursday before Anzac Day up 0.24% and the shortened trading week up 1.41% at 5,531.
The ASX shook off a poor lead overnight from Wall Street where the Dow Jones closed down 0.08%, and the S&P 500 fell 0.22% following investor nervousness after data revealed a drop in US home sales, which led some investors to conclude the US housing recovery could be stalling.
On the local bourse investors appeared to be in holiday mode today with little company or economic news to set the tone. The energy, information technology and consumer staples sectors finished lower; all other sectors gained.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index today:
- Transfield Services Limited (ASX: TSE) jumped 6% to $0.89
- Ten Network Holdings Limited (ASX: TEN) climbed 5.8% to $0.27
- G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) closed up 5.7% to $4.80
- Goodman Fielder Ltd (ASX: GFF) gained 4.8% to $0.55
- Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) rose 4% to $0.64
These stocks were the losers on the day: