The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) fell today, dragged down by ongoing market uncertainty. Two major banks also traded without rights to their upcoming dividend as of this morning, which also dragged on the market's performance.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.5% to 5345 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.5% to 5420 points
- AUD/USD at US 75.46 cents
- Iron Ore at US$79.81 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,216.18 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$44.78 a barrel
Gold shares were savaged today as the spot gold price continued to plunge, down to US$1,216 an ounce from US$1,227 this morning.
Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) crashed 14.1% as a result. EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) also fell 9.7%, while St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) collapsed 9.9% and 9.2%, respectively.
The iron ore miners didn't fare so well either, despite a significant rise in the resource's price. BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) fell 0.4% and 0.2%, while Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) shed 0.5%.
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shares fell 3.2% and 1.5% as the shares went ex-dividend today.
Meanwhile, Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) fell 7% and Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) dropped 4.3%. This made them two of the worst-performing shares on the market today. Hills Ltd (ASX: HIL) also collapsed 22%.
OFX Group Ltd (ASX: OFX) and Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB), on the other hand, enjoyed a strong day. The pair rose 5.9% and 6.4%, respectively.
Here are Monday's top stories:
- Iron ore price soars but rally is unsustainable
- Gold, the "no-lose" Trump Trade: dead, buried and cremated
- Fund manager thinks Woolworths Limited shares could fall to $14
- Look out below! Gold prices slammed 8% since Trump victory
- Are Australian equities drastically overpriced?
- Why Macquarie Group Ltd wants to buy Central Petroleum Limited
