Local shares were poleaxed today with the main bourse crashing more than 100 points.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 2.3% to 4,876 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 2.2% to 4,930 points
- AUD/USD at US 70.2 cents
- Iron Ore at US$43.84 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,126.65 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$32.53 a barrel
Plummeting oil prices were once again behind the market's anxiety today after the resource plunged back below US$33 a barrel (from around US$36). Following the lead set by share markets around the world, the losses accelerated as the day went on with energy shares hit particularly hard.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) was again at the epicentre of the plunge. Its shares fell 4.4% ending the day at $14.27.
Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) both shed at least 5% as well while Sundance Energy Australia Ltd (ASX: SEA) and Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) were among the worst performers on the ASX. They fell 11.5% and 8.5%.
The banks didn't provide any support, either. National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) crashed 5.6% while its rivals all fell nearly 3% as well.
Healthscope Ltd (ASX: HSO) was one of the few companies to buck the trend, rising 1.8%.
Here are Wednesday's top stories:
- Here's why National Australia Bank Ltd. shares fell today
- CRASH: Here's why BHP Billiton Limited's share price plunged today
- Here's why shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia are back in a bear market
- Could you go off-grid with solar and battery storage?
- Are oil prices about to crash again?
- 3 ASX technology shares crushing the ASX 200 in 2016
- Here is why ResMed Inc. (CHESS) is one of the best ASX shares to own
