Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Consumer Staples, IT and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.69%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA), which rose 6.45% or 0.140 points to trade at 2.310 at the close. Meanwhile, Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL) added 4.48% or 0.450 points to end at 10.490 and CYBG PLC (AX:CYB) was up 4.00% or 0.160 points to 4.160 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Programmed Maintenance Services Ltd (AX:PRG), which fell 4.85% or 0.075 points to trade at 1.470 at the close. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) declined 4.39% or 0.140 points to end at 3.050 and Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR) was down 3.93% or 0.260 points to 6.350.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 603 to 385 and 322 ended unchanged.
Shares in CYBG PLC (AX:CYB) rose to all time highs; gaining 4.00% or 0.160 to 4.160.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 6.40% to 15.615.
Gold for June delivery was up 0.51% or 6.30 to $1232.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May rose 0.24% or 0.10 to hit $41.60 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract rose 0.11% or 0.05 to trade at $43.90 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.22% to 0.7710, while AUD/JPY rose 0.40% to 84.50.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.02% at 94.96.