ASX 200 slips on Vocus pain: 12 shares you should have been watching

Vocus Communications Limited (ASX:VOC) suffered another heavy decline today.

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The local share market dropped again today, extending on a three-day string of declines. The miners caused most of the damage after a bad night for commodity markets.

Here's a quick recap:

  • S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.3% to 5440 points
  • ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.3% to 5502 points
  • AUD/USD at US 74.72 cents
  • Iron Ore at US$77.30 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
  • Gold at US$1,189.34 an ounce
  • Brent oil at US$47.63 a barrel

BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) crashed 4.1% and 4.4% today after iron ore prices fell below US$80 a tonne.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) also shed 3.2%, with Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) down 3% and 5.3%, respectively.

The gold miners were mixed today. Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO) plunged 5.3% but Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX: SLR) rallied 6.3%.

Outside the resources sector, Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) tumbled another 4.1%. Amaysim Australia Ltd (ASX: AYS) also shed 9.7%, although TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) rebounded 2%.

Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK) was one of the market's best performers today. It rose 4.2%. JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) also jumped 3.3%.

Here are Wednesday's top stories:

  1. Is the RBA about to raise interest rates?
  2. Hammered: Why Vocus Communications Limited is being destroyed today
  3. Dreamworld to reopen: Why I think Ardent Leisure Group shares are a sell
  4. 3 software shares to benefit from the automation trend
  5. Hammered: Are Amaysim Australia Ltd shares a bargain buy?
  6. Why I'm selling my Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd shares
  7. What everybody needs to know before buying Medibank Private Ltd shares
Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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