McPherson's was hardest hit, seeing 10.5 per
cent of its value wiped off in the single day, while investors in packaging
outfit Colorpak saw the value of their shares drop by 5.5 per cent by close of
business.

One time stock market darling Salmat's
shares plunged by 6.2 per cent to 12 month low of $3.80c, way down on the $5.18
figure they were worth just six months ago following the euphoria of its successful HPA purchase. The nation's biggest print company
PMP saw the value of its shares drop by 3.3 per cent by days end, while Amcor
escaped with a relatively modest 1.5 per cent fall.

The ASX itself dropped by 6 per cent, wiping
some $88bn off the value off the nation's businesses, and is now on its longest
losing streak for 25 years.

With analysts predicting no end yet to the sudden
big bear market, and investors racing to convert their stocks into gold or cash
it is likely the fall will continue for some while to come.

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