Investors were taken on a rollercoaster ride today, but shares ultimately ended the day slightly higher.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 0.1% to 5,155 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 0.1% to 5,205 points
- AUD/USD at US 73.3 cents
- Iron Ore at US$39.40 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,084.83 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$42.68 a barrel
Local shares soared earlier this morning but gradually gave up the majority of those gains, ending the day only marginally higher. This was largely a result of a pullback in the big four bank share prices, together with heavy falls for the energy sector.
Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), for instance, lost 3.7% and 9.9% respectively while Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) fell 5.5%.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) ended the session 0.3% higher, but Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) fell 0.2% and 1.9%.
For the major banks, it was Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) that produced the biggest gains. The pair rose 0.6% and 0.7%.
Spotless Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SPO) was the worst performing share for the day, losing 13.8% to trade at just $1.06. Investa Office Fund (ASX: IOF), on the other hand, rose 7.3%.
Here are Monday's top stories:
- Which is the best fund manager for share market investors?
- Broadspectrum Ltd share price soars on Ferrovial takeover offer
- Investors in McGrath IPO headed for disappointment
- Should you buy the Big Four banks at their current share prices?
- What you need to know about Estia Health Ltd's latest acquisition
- Why dividend shares are a better choice than growth shares
