ASX 200 lower on plunge in iron ore prices; Sims leaps on profit beat

ASX ends at a five-day low as investors sell energy and utilities stocks. Iron ore futures dive as China regulators call meeting, Sims leaps on profit growth and BHP posts record dividend.

Traders await a flurry of earnings results to provide direction including from BHP and Dexus. Picture Paul Miller / AAP Image

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Tuesday, February 15. ASX dropped to a five-day low as investors sold energy stocks and iron ore companies were hit by a fall in iron ore futures. It comes as Sims leaped on a strong half year update and Seeks saw profits climb on Australia's jobs boom.

The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.5 per cent lower to 7206.9 in a choppy session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 0.9 per cent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid 0.4 per cent.

Iron ore fell 0.5 per cent to $US149.40 a tonne. And with all eyes on the Ukraine, global oil prices rallied around 2.5 per cent overnight to trade at a seven-year high. The US Nymex crude price gained 2.5 per cent to $US95.46 a barrel, while the Brent crude price added 2.2 per cent to $US96.58 a barrel.