The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has finished Wednesday flat, registering a small fall of just 0.03%.
The lacklustre post-budget session came despite the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 rallying to new all- time closing highs.
Local market participants appeared relieved that the budget should not have any major ramifications for stocks. Major market movers today included ex-dividend stocks National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) which fell; while Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) rallied to a new record high after releasing its March quarter earnings.
Sectors finished mixed with the CBA's gains unable to counter the decliners; the financials, health care and utilities sectors all finished lower. All other sectors gained.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index today:
- Transfield Services Limited (ASX: TSE) soared 11.2% to $1.19
- Pacific Brands Limited (ASX: PBG) jumped 5.9% to 53 cents
- Cover-More Group Ltd (ASX: CVO) gained 3.9% to $2.40
- Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) rose 3.3% to $9.40
- JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) closed up 3.2% to $20.06
These stocks were the losers on the day:
