Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Materials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.46%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL), which rose 4.10% or 0.430 points to trade at 10.920 at the close. Meanwhile, Nine Ent Fpo (AX:NEC) added 3.77% or 0.045 points to end at 1.240 and Westfield Corporation (AX:WFD) was up 3.28% or 0.340 points to 10.710 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR), which fell 13.83% or 0.950 points to trade at 5.920 at the close. Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) declined 10.89% or 0.280 points to end at 2.290 and Covermore Fpo (AX:CVO) was down 9.93% or 0.135 points to 1.225.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 615 to 435 and 325 ended unchanged.
Shares in Westfield Corporation (AX:WFD) rose to 52-week highs; up 3.28% or 0.340 to 10.710. Shares in Covermore Fpo (AX:CVO) fell to all time lows; falling 9.93% or 0.135 to 1.225.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 9.25% to 18.682.
Gold for June delivery was down 0.71% or 9.15 to $1282.65 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June rose 0.27% or 0.12 to hit $43.77 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.13% or 0.06 to trade at $45.03 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.24% to 0.7501, while AUD/JPY rose 0.68% to 80.32.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.14% at 93.15.