The local share market closed lower again today, although it did manage to pare back some of its losses as the day wore on. Energy shares acted as a drag on the market, as did the iron ore miners.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.3% to 5416 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.3% to 5512 points
- AUD/USD at US 75.40 cents
- Iron Ore at US$58.97 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,309.23 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$47.19 a barrel
Falling commodity prices had a negative impact on the resources sector today.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) fell particularly hard, losing 2.9%, but Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) lost 1.3% as well.
Meanwhile, Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) fell 1% and 3.2%, respectively.
Most of the gold miners fell also after the spot gold price fell towards US$1,300 an ounce. Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX: SLR) lost another 5.3%, while Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) fell 2.3%.
Outside the resources sector, however, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) gained 0.6% and Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) rose 1.9%.
Aconex Limited (ASX: ACX) was the best on the market, rising 7.2%. Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE) fell another 2.6%, while Slater & Gordon Limited (ASX: SGH) dropped 13.1%.
Here are Thursday's top stories:
- 3 blue chip shares I'd buy with $15,000 today
- 2 shares priced under $1 that I would buy today
- ResApp Health Ltd: The Last Company To Report In Earnings Season
- Could these be the best 4 blue chips for your portfolio right now?
- Top broker slaps $28.50 price target on Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shares
- 5 dividend shares I'd buy with $50,000 today
- Oil price sinks taking energy shares with it