The ASX 200 is being crushed: 13 shares you should have been watching

Although it opened slightly higher, the Australian share market soon retreated as the selloff that begun on Wednesday continued.

Here's a quick recap:

• S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 1.2% to 5295 points
• ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 1.2% to 5378 points
• AUD/USD at US 76.23 cents
• Iron Ore at US$63.07 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
• Gold at US$1,265.95 an ounce
• Brent oil at US$50.04 a barrel

Shares of Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) extended their decline today, sliding another 2.7%.

Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) fell 1.3% as well, while banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) slid 1.6%.

Neither Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) nor BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) benefited from a rising iron ore price today, the pair falling 0.1% and 1.4% respectively.

APN News and Media Limited (ASX: APN) shares were slammed 18.3% as they emerged from a trading halt this morning. The company announced an acquisition as well as a capital raising on Tuesday.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) also fell 5.4% and 4.8% after the spot gold price fell overnight.

Elsewhere, Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) fell another 1.9%. Incredibly, Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) ended the day 1.3% higher, after falling sharply following its first-quarter earnings update earlier in the day.

On another positive note, Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) shares regained 7.5% today. Its shares have come under enormous selling pressure recently following the tragic deaths that occurred at its Dreamworld theme park this week.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) gained 4.3% as well, while JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) shares were up 0.9%.

Here are Thursday's top stories:

1. National Australia Bank Ltd reports: Are shares good value?
2. Slammed: Blackmores Limited shares tumble on AGM update
3. Is Woolworths Limited still losing market share to its competitors?
4. Ardent Leisure Group flags significant impact to theme parks at AGM
5. Iron ore hits 11-week high and more gains could be ahead
6. Why JB Hi-Fi Limited shares soared 5% today
7. 2 huge reasons why shares of Westfield Corp have been hammered since Brexit