Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Energy, Financials and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.31% to hit a new 3-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were M Pharma Fp (AX:MYX), which rose 6.62% or 0.095 points to trade at 1.530 at the close. Meanwhile, Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM) added 4.26% or 0.030 points to end at 0.735 and GWA Group Ltd (AX:GWA) was up 3.91% or 0.110 points to 2.920 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Sirtex Medical Ltd (AX:SRX), which fell 37.27% or 9.500 points to trade at 15.990 at the close. Crown Ltd (AX:CWN) declined 5.07% or 0.610 points to end at 11.430 and Aconex Ltd (AX:ACX) was down 4.22% or 0.190 points to 4.310.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 576 to 462 and 331 ended unchanged.
Shares in Sirtex Medical Ltd (AX:SRX) fell to 52-week lows; losing 37.27% or 9.500 to 15.990.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.89% to 12.530.
Gold for February delivery was down 0.23% or 2.75 to $1169.65 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 0.77% or 0.39 to hit $51.23 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.37% or 0.20 to trade at $54.09 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.01% to 0.7464, while AUD/JPY rose 0.33% to 85.37.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.06% at 101.17.