Market Wrap: Friday the 13th CURSE hits S&P/ASX 200

The S&P/ASX 200 (Index:^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) never looked like rising today, while BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP) shares hit a fresh seven year low…

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Friday the 13th is often associated with bad luck and misfortune and that was certainly the case on the ASX today.

Here's a quick recap:

  • S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 1.5% to 5,051 points
  • ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 1.4% to 5,111 points
  • AUD/USD at US 71.35 cents
  • Iron Ore at US$47.81 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
  • Gold at US$1,083.24 an ounce
  • Brent oil at US$45.22 a barrel

The ASX 200 plunged immediately after the market opened and from there, there was no looking back. Billions of dollars were wiped from the local stock market today with the resources sector hit particularly hard.

BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) was on the chopping board again, this time because of a heavy fall in commodity prices overnight. The shares hit a seven-year trough below the $20 mark and ended the day down 1.8% at $20.23.

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) also ended the day 1.7% and 3% lower. South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) fell 4.8% while Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) lost 7.7% and 7.1%.

A number of other blue chip stocks also felt the market's wrath. Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) all fell between 1.6% and 3.4% while Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) was the worst of the banks, shedding 2.1%.

At the bottom of the market was Sims Metal Management Ltd (ASX: SGM), down 9.8%, while G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) bucked the trend, closing 4.7% higher.

Here are Friday's top stories:

  1. BHP Billiton Limited shares sink under $20
  2. Why South32 Ltd share price hit a new low today
  3. Why BHP Billiton Limited could cut its dividend by 35%
  4. Your dividend payments aren't guaranteed
  5. Are market darlings Bellamy's Australia Ltd and 1-Page Ltd higher risk investments?
  6. Wesfarmers Ltd sinks 3% to fresh 52 week low
  7. Why the Santos Ltd share price is getting crushed
Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman owns shares of 1-Page Ltd and Bellamy's Australia. Unless otherwise noted, the author does not have a position in any stocks mentioned by the author in the comments below. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ASXvalueinvest. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Bellamy's Australia. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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