Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Energy, Resources and Utilities sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.36%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Western Areas Ltd (ASX:WSA), which rose 5.33% or 0.120 points to trade at 2.370 at the close. Meanwhile, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN) added 5.19% or 0.230 points to end at 4.660 and Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (ASX:SAR) was up 4.95% or 0.190 points to 4.030 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Cimic Group Ltd (ASX:CIM), which fell 18.98% or 8.690 points to trade at 37.090 at the close. Eclipx Group Ltd (ASX:ECX) declined 5.99% or 0.095 points to end at 1.490 and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) was down 5.36% or 0.105 points to 1.855.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 585 to 569 and 387 ended unchanged.
Shares in Cimic Group Ltd (ASX:CIM) fell to 52-week lows; falling 18.98% or 8.690 to 37.090. Shares in Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN) rose to all time highs; gaining 5.19% or 0.230 to 4.660. Shares in Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (ASX:SAR) rose to all time highs; rising 4.95% or 0.190 to 4.030.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.29% to 10.866.
Gold Futures for August delivery was down 0.06% or 0.85 to $1422.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 0.02% or 0.01 to hit $56.77 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract rose 0.25% or 0.16 to trade at $63.82 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.40% to 0.7037, while AUD/JPY rose 0.15% to 75.78.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.10% at 96.752.