ASX 200 slides: 13 shares you should have been watching

Woolworths Limited (ASX:WOW) finally reported comparable sales growth at its supermarkets today.

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Despite a positive start to the session, Australian shares fell again on Friday. Thankfully, they did recover some of their losses late in the session, but the main bourse still recorded a 2.7% decline for the week.

Here's a quick recap:

  • S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.2% to 5283 points
  • ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.1% to 5370 points
  • AUD/USD at US 75.97 cents
  • Iron Ore at US$63.04 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
  • Gold at US$1,270.29 an ounce
  • Brent oil at US$50.45 a barrel

Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) reported same-store sales growth at its Australian food stores for the first time in a year this morning.

Although its shares rose initially, they ended the day 2.3% lower. Its rival Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) ended the day flat.

A number of other blue-chips suffered today. AMP Limited (ASX: AMP) was crushed 9.1% following a downgrade, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shed 1.7% after it announced $100 million in additional restructuring costs this morning.

APN News and Media Limited (ASX: APN) slumped another 2.1%. Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) reversed 4.3%. And Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) drifted 5.1% lower too.

Among the market's best were Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO), which rose 3.5% and 4.1%, while Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) gained 5.9%.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) rose 5.4%, with BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) up 2.1% and 1.7% as well.

Here are Friday's top stories:

  1. Woolworths Limited returns to growth, are its shares a buy?
  2. Why Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shares are falling on $360 million of charges
  3. AMP Limited share price crunched
  4. Here's why the Carsales.Com Ltd share price is sinking today
  5. This is your 6-step plan for playing this wobbly, wobbly stock market
  6. Australia's Top 10 largest listed software companies
  7. Macquarie Group Ltd dividend surges, what you need to know
Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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