The local bourse is making further gains today with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 0.4% at lunchtime. The gains come after US stocks ended in positive territory overnight despite wild swings between gains and losses during the session.
The market is also being influenced today by economic data published by the Westpac-Melbourne Institute that shows consumer sentiment in March slowed markedly from the trend pace. Data out of China which shows the economic powerhouse's growth was at its slowest in the past year-and-a-half also dampened the mood.
Here are the top five best performing stocks in the index at midday today:
- Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) has jumped 5.1% to $6.42
- Buru Energy Limited (ASX: BRU) has added 4.3% to $1.20
- CSR Limited (ASX: CSR) has risen 3.6% to $3.70
- Karoon Gas Australia Limited (ASX: KAR) has climbed 3.5% to $2.69
- TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) has gained 3.3% to $5.91
These are the five worst performing stocks at midday today:
