Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Healthcare, Telecoms Services and Consumer Staples sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.36% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Bluescope Steel Ltd (AX:BSL), which rose 7.24% or 0.530 points to trade at 7.850 at the close. Meanwhile, Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIP) added 4.86% or 0.060 points to end at 1.295 and Japara Fpo (AX:JHC) was up 4.58% or 0.115 points to 2.625 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Incitec Pivot Ltd (AX:IPL), which fell 9.58% or 0.300 points to trade at 2.830 at the close. Orica Ltd (AX:ORI) declined 4.47% or 0.600 points to end at 12.820 and Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) was down 4.32% or 0.130 points to 2.880.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 607 to 432 and 334 ended unchanged.
Shares in Bluescope Steel Ltd (AX:BSL) rose to 5-year highs; up 7.24% or 0.530 to 7.850. Shares in Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIP) rose to 5-year highs; rising 4.86% or 0.060 to 1.295.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 3.66% to 16.062 a new 1-month low.
Gold for August delivery was down 0.70% or 9.45 to $1334.15 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August rose 1.14% or 0.51 to hit $45.26 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract rose 0.84% or 0.39 to trade at $46.65 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.04% to 0.7611, while AUD/JPY rose 0.78% to 80.12.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.02% at 96.34.