Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Gold, Metals & Mining and Resources sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.20% to hit a new 1-month low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Ardent Leisure Group (AX:AAD), which rose 7.50% or 0.150 points to trade at 2.150 at the close. Meanwhile, Challenger Ltd (AX:CGF) added 4.39% or 0.460 points to end at 10.950 and OZ Minerals Ltd (AX:OZL) was up 2.96% or 0.180 points to 6.260 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were APN News & Media Ltd (AX:APN), which fell 11.27% or 0.352 points to trade at 2.770 at the close. Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG) declined 10.39% or 0.185 points to end at 1.595 and Syrah Res F (AX:SYR) was down 8.91% or 0.350 points to 3.580.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 671 to 371 and 298 ended unchanged.
Shares in Challenger Ltd (AX:CGF) rose to all time highs; rising 4.39% or 0.460 to 10.950.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 5.11% to 15.437 a new 1-month high.
Gold for December delivery was up 0.15% or 1.95 to $1268.55 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 0.22% or 0.11 to hit $49.29 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 0.22% or 0.11 to trade at $50.09 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.24% to 0.7633, while AUD/JPY fell 0.14% to 79.81.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.08% at 98.67.