Despite the ASX lifting higher at the open after a positive lead on Wall Street which saw both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 up 0.5%, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) slipped into negative territory at lunchtime, showing a fall of 0.05%.
The major miners are registering gains today after coming under pressure for most of the week on news that the iron ore price has fallen to an 8-month low due to weakening demand from Chinese steel mills for the commodity.
Sectors are mixed with materials, healthcare, consumer discretionary and property showing gains. All other sectors are lower.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index at midday today:
- James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX) has jumped 7.5% to $14.69
- Medusa Mining Limited (ASX: MML) has climbed 5.9% to $2.16
- Transfield Services Limited (ASX: TSE) has added 3.2% to 87.7 cents
- BC Iron Limited (ASX: BCI) has risen 2.9% to $4.94
- Decmil Group Limited (ASX: DCG) has gained 2.9% to $2.15
These are the five worst performing stocks at midday today:
- Mermaid Marine Australia Limited (ASX: MRM) has slumped 14.4% to $2.40
- Silver Lake Resources Limited (ASX: SLR) has dropped 12.9% to 59.2 cents
- Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has fallen 6% to $1.09
- Adelaide Brighton Ltd. (ASX: ABC) has declined 4.8% to $4.16
- Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) has slipped 4.4% to 60.7 cents
