ASX 200 soars past 5,400 points: 10 shares you should have been watching

The gold miners didn't have the same shine as they did on Thursday

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Australian shares soared higher again today, ending the session above 5,400 points following an upbeat night for equity markets around the world.

Here's a quick recap:

  • S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 1.1% to 5431 points
  • ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 1% to 5518 points
  • AUD/USD at US 76.35 cents
  • Iron Ore at US$56.34 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
  • Gold at US$1,334.10 an ounce
  • Brent oil at US$47.24 a barrel

From the banks, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shares lifted 1.3% while National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) rose 1.7%.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) also ended the day 2% higher while Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) gained 2.6%.

Shares of the gold miners came off the boil today. Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) fell 1.9% and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) shed 4.2%.

Meanwhile, Whitehaven Coal Limited (ASX: WHC) fell 9.1% and Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) dropped 6.3%.

It was a better day for TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TM) and Japara Healthcare Ltd (ASX: JHC), however. The pair rose 2.5% and 5%, respectively.

Here are Friday's top stories:

  1. Is the Lithium Boom set to become the Lithium Bust?
  2. Is Retail Food Group Limited the next Domino's Pizza?
  3. See The Difference $100 Per Month Can Make to Your Wealth Over 30 Years
  4. 3 reasons why I'd buy Ramsay Health Care Limited shares today
  5. Is the share price rally in blue-chip mining shares over?
  6. Is Tower Limited (Australia) about to get bought out by IAG or Suncorp?
Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman owns shares of Retail Food Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Retail Food Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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