Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Gold, Financials and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.06% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Sirtex Medical Ltd (AX:SRX), which rose 3.49% or 0.490 points to trade at 14.520 at the close. Meanwhile, Blackmores Ltd (AX:BKL) added 3.38% or 3.610 points to end at 110.320 and Asaleo Care (AX:AHY) was up 3.31% or 0.050 points to 1.560 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Ardent Leisure Group (AX:AAD), which fell 4.70% or 0.110 points to trade at 2.230 at the close. Nextdc Ltd (AX:NXT) declined 3.24% or 0.120 points to end at 3.580 and Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (AX:CWY) was down 3.20% or 0.040 points to 1.210.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 507 to 470 and 327 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.98% to 12.878.
Gold for February delivery was down 0.09% or 1.05 to $1160.95 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.78% or 0.41 to hit $52.74 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.78% or 0.43 to trade at $55.90 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.29% to 0.7240, while AUD/JPY rose 0.60% to 85.52.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.07% at 103.31.