The ASX has started the day in positive territory with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) showing a gain of 0.64% just after midday. The positive mood follows an upbeat session on Wall Street overnight where US stocks bounced back strongly from last week's losses as concerns over the Ukrainian situation eased.
In domestic economic news all eyes were on the minutes of the monetary policy meeting of the Reserve Bank Board. The RBA minutes noted that it appeared appropriate to maintain the current interest rate policy stance and that a period of interest rate stability was prudent.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index at midday today:
- Sirius Resources N.L. (ASX: SIR) has rallied 6% to $2.81
- Energy World Corporation Ltd. (ASX: EWC)has jumped 5.2% to 30.5 cents
- Acrux Limited (ASX: ACR) is up 4.4% to $1.78
- Wotif.com Holdings Limited (ASX: WTF) has gained 4.4% to $2.39
- Mermaid Marine Australia Limited (ASX: MRM) has added 4% to $2.37
These are the five worst performing stocks at midday today:
- Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) is down 5.9% to 68.7 cents
- Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) has dropped 5.8% to 72.5 cents
- Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has fallen 5.7% to $1.25
- Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) has lost 5.1% to $11.54
- Evolution FPO (ASX: EVN) has slipped 4% to 95.5 cents