It was a prosperous year for Australian equities in 2021. Most of the ASX shares in the top 200 shook off concerns of new COVID-19 strains and tightening monetary policy by central banks. However, some companies weren't as fortunate throughout the year.

We've put the constituents of the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) under the microscope to uncover the shares that were least favoured by investors in the last year.

Count yourself lucky if none of these companies were in your portfolio in 2021. The following five ASX shares were bullets worth dodging.

5 worst performing ASX All Ords shares of 2021

Laybuy Holdings Ltd (ASX: LBY)

Illustrating the destruction across buy now, pay later (BNPL) shares in 2021, instalment payment provider Laybuy takes the crown for the worst performing ASX share of the year.

The company made its entrance into the year at a price of $1.30. By the time the curtains drew close on 2021, Laybuy shares were fetching 24 cents apiece — representing a stomach-churning 82% fall over the course of the year.

While Laybuy managed to achieve a record year in terms of revenue and gross merchandise value, investors punished the share price as sentiment waned across the BNPL sector.

Splitit Ltd (ASX: SPT)

Continuing the trend, the next poorest performing ASX share making the list is another instalment payment provider.

Splitit couldn't escape the shift in how bullish investors were on BNPL companies. In turn, Splitit shares plummeted 81% by the end of the year. A steep increase in bottom-line losses likely didn't help with the company's appeal in 2021. Losses ballooned to US$35.2 million in FY21 compared to US$26.6 million in FY20.

Currently, Splitit shares are trading at 26 cents per share, down a further 10% on Thursday.

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

2021 wasn't kind to ASX-listed gold mining shares. Even the giants of the game suffered throughout the year. Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) all witnessed a fall of 10% to 30%.

Though, it was the more speculative segment of the gold mining market that was smashed. Perth-based Ora Banda Mining sank 78% last year. Shares in the company continued to move lower after Ora Banda raised $21 million to fund the development of its Davyhurst Gold Project.

Damstra Holdings Ltd (ASX: DTC)

Turning towards the tech-end of the town, workplace management solutions provider Damstra was a drag on investors' portfolios in 2021.

The Damstra share price waltzed into last year at $1.53 after having gained ~32% in the previous year. However, shares gradually declined as the company experienced challenges. These included a contractual dispute with a client and a reduction of service to another client.

As a result, FY22 guidance was cut to between $30 billion to $34 million, down from $35.9 million to $38.9 million. The mounting disappointments were reflected in the 78% fall in Damstra shares in 2021.

Cleanspace Holdings Ltd (ASX: CSX)

Rounding out the top five worst-performing ASX shares of 2021 is respiratory protection equipment manufacturer, Cleanspace.

The company enjoyed a record-setting year in 2020 as demand for respirators skyrocketed in the face of COVID-19. Opportunistically, shares in Cleanspace debuted on the ASX in October 2020.

Unfortunately for investors, a sudden dropoff in sales in the second half of FY21 led to a 50% crash in Cleanspace shares. The Cleanspace share price continued to face challenges throughout the remainder of 2021 to finish the year 78% lower.

The post These are the 5 worst performing ASX shares of 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In fact, 23 out of the 32 shares listed on the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) that are primarily focused on gold exploration and production are in the red for 2021.

That leaves just 9 ASX gold shares returning a profit to shareholders this calendar year.

The best performing of the ASX gold shares in 2021

Hands down the best performing of the ASX gold shares so far this year is Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN).

The Chalice Mining share price is up 75% year-to-date. That's more than double the second best performing gold miner, Auteco Minerals Ltd (ASX: AUT), up 21% this calendar year.

Unlike Auteco, which is down 33% over the past full year, Chalice Mining's shares also top the 12-month leader board for ASX gold shares, having gained 571% since this time last year.

Chalice Mining's share price has gone higher in part due to substantial success at its Julimar project in Western Australia.

Now, next year Chalice may no longer be eligible for this list. It's not because I'm speculating on how its share price may move. But because the company is looking to demerge its gold assets and turn them into a new ASX-listed company.

For today, however, Chalice Mining is our number one performer in the segment.

On the other end of the scale…

At the bottom end of the ASX gold shares performance list is Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM).

The gold explorer and producer operates within Australia and owns an interest in the Davyhurst Project within the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.

Since the closing bell on 30 December 2020, the Ora Banda share price has fallen 56%. The company also holds the unfortunate position as the worst performer over the past 12 months, with shares down 65% since this time last year.

The Ora Banda share price came under renewed pressure on 8 June, after the company raised $21 million in capital via a share placement at a 17% discount to the going share price at the time. Shares fell more than 12% following the announcement.

How has gold moved this year?

Many factors determine the price of ASX gold shares.

High among these, as you'd expect, is the price of gold.

While gold prices climbed from early April through to early June, the yellow metal is still trading 5.1% below where it was on 1 January and 7.9% below 5 January levels.

At time of writing, one ounce of gold is worth US$1,797.36 per troy ounce.

The post The best and worst ASX gold shares to own so far in 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) share price is one of the worst performers on the ASX today. This comes after the gold miner announced an update on its capital raising efforts.

At the time of writing, Ora Banda shares are down 12.20% to 18 cents.

What's happening with the Ora Banda share price?

A major catalyst for the fall in today's Ora Banda share price is an impending share dilution.

According to today's announcement, Ora Banda has successfully completed a share placement.

The company received commitments from new and existing international and domestic institutions, raising $21 million before costs.

According to the placement, about 124 million shares will be issued at a price of 17 cents each. This represents a 17.1% discount to Ora Banda shares' last closing price of 20.5 cents on 3 June before they entered a trading halt.

Ora Banda will use its existing placement capacity to create the new shares. Under listing rule 7.1, this allows up to 15% of its total shares to be issued without shareholder approval. In addition, the company will issue another 588,236 shares ($100,000 worth) to the managing director, David Quinlivan. This, however, is conditional on shareholder approval, with the general meeting expected to be held around 19 July 2021.

The proceeds of the placement will be used for the development of its Davyhurst Gold Project. This includes resource definition and reserve replacement, maiden reserves work, regional exploration, ramp-up costs and working capital expenses.

Lastly, Ora Banda says it will launch a $4 million Share Purchase Plan with the same terms offered to eligible investors. Up to 23.5 million new shares will be created, with the monies being put towards corporate purposes and working capital.

Management commentary

Ora Banda managing director, David Quinlivan said:

FY 2021 has been an incredibly busy time for Ora Banda. It was the year in which the Company started three new mines, installed and commissioned a range of significant infrastructure on site including a new LNG power station, built a new camp, completed the planned process plant remedial works program on time and within budget and then recommissioned this plant.

All of this achieved during a year of significant global "Covid-19" disruptions. With three mines on line by the end of June, the Company has a solid and flexible production base as processing ramps up to nameplate capacity.

Funding to progress resource and reserve definition and advance high priority exploration targets ahead of when previously planned will further underpin the Company's long-term future.

The Ora Banda Energy share price is down by more than 30% since this time last year.

The post Why the Ora Banda (ASX:OBM) share price is sinking 12% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.