Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Gold, A-REITs and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.70% to hit a new 1-month low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIP), which rose 10.12% or 0.130 points to trade at 1.415 at the close. Meanwhile, Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) added 7.69% or 0.160 points to end at 2.240 and Origin Energy Ltd (AX:ORG) was up 5.65% or 0.290 points to 5.420 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bluescope Steel Ltd (AX:BSL), which fell 3.86% or 0.330 points to trade at 8.220 at the close. Charter Hall Group (AX:CHC) declined 3.60% or 0.200 points to end at 5.350 and Ramsay Health Care Ltd (AX:RHC) was down 3.51% or 2.820 points to 77.450.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 620 to 457 and 319 ended unchanged.
Shares in Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIP) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 10.12% or 0.130 to 1.415. Shares in Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) rose to 3-years highs; rising 7.69% or 0.160 to 2.240.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 12.58% to 15.191 a new 1-month high.
Gold for December delivery was up 0.02% or 0.25 to $1341.85 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October fell 0.84% or 0.40 to hit $47.22 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract fell 0.94% or 0.47 to trade at $49.52 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.13% to 0.7653, while AUD/JPY fell 0.17% to 78.17.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.20% at 94.85.