The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) plummeted shortly after it opened this morning but has managed to scrape back some of its losses to sit 0.6% lower late in the session.
Following on from a rough night for equity markets, which saw the Dow Jones and NASDAQ indices lose 1.9% and 1.7% respectively in the US, Australia's benchmark index has lost 29 points to be hovering just below the 5800 level.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of stocks which have performed far worse than the broader market, including these four.
Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) has been the market's worst performing stock, by far. The leisure and entertainment business has been torn to shreds by investors following its announcement that long-running CEO Greg Shaw would retire from his position, effective as at the end of the financial year. The stock plummeted 20.2% to $1.94, but fell as much as 28% earlier in the session.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) has also had a rough trot with its shares currently trading 4.8% lower at $30.39. While the stock went ex-dividend today, the plummeting iron ore and oil prices are also weighing on investor sentiment with further falls expected for both commodities.
Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) has been caught up in the broader sell-off of gold shares despite having released what would appear to be a very positive company update. The gold miner should actually benefit from a stronger US dollar (and weaker Australian dollar) given that gold is priced in US currency-terms, while Beadell's costs are primarily measured in Brazilian Real (BRL). Nonetheless, investors sold the stock 5% lower to 24.7 cents.
Senex Energy Ltd (ASX: SXY) has lost another 4.6% of its market value today, giving it a 56% decline since June last year. The stock has been on a downward tear as a result of the crashing oil price. According to the Fairfax press, Brent oil fell approximately 4% overnight to US$56.21 a barrel, but some economists believe we could be headed for a price of US$40 or lower in the coming months.
