Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Gold, Energy and Resources sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.58% to hit a new 6-months low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:TAH), which rose 6.68% or 0.310 points to trade at 4.950 at the close. Meanwhile, Ozforex Grp (ASX:OFX) added 6.20% or 0.160 points to end at 2.740 and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) was up 6.00% or 0.060 points to 1.060 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Santos Ltd (ASX:STO), which fell 8.97% or 0.590 points to trade at 5.990 at the close. Syrah Res F (ASX:SYR) declined 7.06% or 0.240 points to end at 3.160 and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX:EVN) was down 6.54% or 0.070 points to 1.000.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 516 to 455 and 139 ended unchanged.
Shares in Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) fell to 5-year lows; falling 8.97% or 0.590 to 5.990.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.23% to 19.812 a new 1-month high.
Gold for December delivery was up 0.01% or 0.10 to $1115.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 0.49% or 0.20 to hit $42.02 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to trade at $49.63 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.35% to 0.7386, while AUD/JPY rose 0.28% to 91.82.
The US Dollar Index was unchanged 0.00% at 96.36.