Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Healthcare, Consumer Discretionary and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.18%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Idp Education Ltd (AX:IEL), which rose 8.82% or 0.870 points to trade at 10.730 at the close. Meanwhile, Brambles Ltd (AX:BXB) added 6.63% or 0.660 points to end at 10.620 and Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (AX:MYX) was up 5.71% or 0.060 points to 1.110 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Wisetech Global Ltd (AX:WTC), which fell 15.63% or 3.710 points to trade at 20.020 at the close. Costa Group Holdings Ltd (AX:CGC) declined 10.76% or 0.940 points to end at 7.800 and Altium Ltd (AX:ALU) was down 7.50% or 2.230 points to 27.510.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 633 to 611 and 401 ended unchanged.
Shares in Brambles Ltd (AX:BXB) rose to 52-week highs; up 6.63% or 0.660 to 10.620. Shares in Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (AX:MYX) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.71% or 0.060 to 1.110.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 5.65% to 12.039.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.03% or 0.40 to $1194.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October rose 0.59% or 0.40 to hit $68.23 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract rose 0.52% or 0.39 to trade at $75.12 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.41% to 0.7278, while AUD/JPY rose 0.55% to 81.09.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.14% at 95.42.