The market has started the day down with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) sinking 1.08% by noon following Wall Street's lead where US stocks fell overnight.
In economic news, consumer confidence has fallen to a 10-month low with the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment reporting a reading of 99.5 in March.
Turning to the sectors, it's a sea of red with all sectors showing losses. The consumer discretionary and energy sectors have been hit particularly hard, down nearly 2% each.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index at lunchtime today:
- Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) has gained 2.6% to $4.95
- Mount Gibson Iron Limited (ASX: MGX) has climbed 2.5% to 80.5 cents
- Ausdrill Limited (ASX: ASL) has added 2.3% to 90 cents
- Telecom Corp of New Zealnad (Australia) (ASX: TEL) has risen 1.8% to $2.31
- DuluxGroup Limited (ASX: DLX) is up 1.7% to $5.39
These are the five worst performing stocks at lunchtime today: