Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Health Care, Information Technology and Energy sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.60%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG), which rose 13.43% or 0.045 points to trade at 0.380 at the close. Meanwhile, Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX:BDR) added 10.61% or 0.035 points to end at 0.365 and Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) was up 6.84% or 0.830 points to 12.970 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Horizon Oil Ltd (ASX:HZN), which fell 7.41% or 0.010 points to trade at 0.125 at the close. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) declined 6.99% or 0.510 points to end at 6.790 and Arrium Ltd (ASX:ARI) was down 6.52% or 0.015 points to 0.215.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 350 to 213 and 43 ended unchanged.
Shares in Horizon Oil Ltd (ASX:HZN) fell to 5-year lows; falling 7.41% or 0.010 to 0.125. Shares in Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) rose to 52-week highs; up 6.84% or 0.830 to 12.970.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.00% to 16.401.
Gold for February delivery was down 0.57% or 7.20 to $1257.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude Oil for delivery in February rose 0.97% or 0.45 to hit $46.70 a barrel, while the March Brent Oil contract rose 1.15% or 0.56 to trade at $48.71 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.23% to 0.8233, while AUD/JPY rose 0.48% to 95.86.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.06% at 92.57.