Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Metals & Mining, Materials and Resources sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.73%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Regis Resources Ltd (ASX:RRL), which rose 5.58% or 0.065 points to trade at 1.230 at the close. Meanwhile, Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX:SXL) added 4.48% or 0.045 points to end at 1.050 and Arrium Ltd (ASX:ARI) was up 2.94% or 0.005 points to 0.170 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Virtus Health Ltd (ASX:VRT), which fell 19.92% or 1.520 points to trade at 6.110 at the close. AWE Ltd (ASX:AWE) declined 5.54% or 0.080 points to end at 1.365 and Karoon Gas Australia Ltd (ASX:KAR) was down 5.51% or 0.150 points to 2.570.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 628 to 399 and 191 ended unchanged.
Shares in Virtus Health Ltd (ASX:VRT) fell to all time lows; falling 19.92% or 1.520 to 6.110.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 6.22% to 17.086.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.04% or 0.50 to $1189.20 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.32% or 0.20 to hit $60.40 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.35% or 0.23 to trade at $65.11 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 1.26% to 0.7700, while AUD/JPY rose 1.05% to 95.89.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.24% at 97.29.