It was a bloodbath on the local share market today in what was the ASX's fifth-straight day in the red.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 2.2% to 5010 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 2.1% to 5068 points
- AUD/USD at US 70.42 cents
- Iron Ore at US$42.91 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,099.40 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$33.34 a barrel
The losses continued to pile up on the ASX after China's shares were suspended from trading for the second time this week after the CSI 300 Index plunged more than 7%. A sharp decline in the oil price overnight didn't help the market's sentiment, either.
Shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) were hit hard. They fell 4.8% each, while Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shed 5.1% and 7.4%.
All four major banks lost more than 2%, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) each shed more than 3%.
Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) and WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED (ASX: WHC) were amongst the hardest hit, falling 11.6% and 10.5%. Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR), on the other hand, was one of the lucky gold miners to escape the market's wrath, rising 10.3% after gold prices soared.
Here are Thursday's top stories:
- S&P/ASX 200 crashes: Stay calm and think rationally
- Why BHP Billiton Limited's share price is getting hammered today
- China shares crash again as ASX gold miners surge
- Here's why the Santos Ltd share price is crumbling today
- The General Mining share price is up 5,800% in the past year. Is there more to come?
- 5 reasons 2016 is the best year yet to start investing
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