Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Healthcare, Energy and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.35%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Alumina Ltd (AX:AWC), which rose 6.82% or 0.105 points to trade at 1.645 at the close. Meanwhile, M Pharma Fp (AX:MYX) added 6.60% or 0.095 points to end at 1.535 and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (AX:SHL) was up 6.41% or 1.300 points to 21.580 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN), which fell 6.94% or 0.170 points to trade at 2.280 at the close. Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) declined 6.82% or 0.090 points to end at 1.230 and Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG) was down 5.21% or 0.085 points to 1.545.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 629 to 415 and 272 ended unchanged.
Shares in Alumina Ltd (AX:AWC) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.82% or 0.105 to 1.645.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 10.50% to 18.532.
Gold for December delivery was down 1.13% or 14.75 to $1289.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 1.38% or 0.61 to hit $44.68 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract rose 1.18% or 0.54 to trade at $46.12 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.05% to 0.7671, while AUD/JPY rose 1.31% to 80.16.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.70% at 97.62.