Best and worst stocks on the ASX today

The local bourse opened sharply lower today, reversing yesterday's gains. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) took its lead from US markets and fell 0.78%. Overnight the Dow Jones was down 1.19%, while the S&P 500 fell 1.02%. All eyes were on the US Federal Reserve's decision to continue tapering, with a further $10 billion cut from its monthly bond purchase program announced.

Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index today.

• Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) gained 5% to 74 cents
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) rose 4.9% to 64 cents
• Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR) climbed 4.2% to 62 cents
• Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO) added 3.7% to $3.33
• Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) closed up 2.9% to 54 cents

These stocks were the losers on the day.

• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) plunged 20% to $3.64
• Forge Group Limited (ASX: FGE) dropped 17.1% to 68 cents
• Mount Gibson Iron Ltd (ASX: MGX) lost 5.6% to $1.02
• Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) fell 5.1% to $4.83
• Skilled Group Ltd. (ASX: SKE) slipped 5.1% to $2.81