Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Energy, Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 1.92% to hit a new 3-months low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR), which rose 15.23% or 0.185 points to trade at 1.400 at the close. Meanwhile, Northern Star Resources Ltd (AX:NST) added 10.71% or 0.450 points to end at 4.650 and Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) was up 10.04% or 0.230 points to 2.520 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Beach Energy Ltd (AX:BPT), which fell 9.55% or 0.075 points to trade at 0.710 at the close. Orocobre Ltd (AX:ORE) declined 8.38% or 0.300 points to end at 3.280 and Santos Ltd (AX:STO) was down 7.80% or 0.290 points to 3.430.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 981 to 221 and 229 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 14.69% to 21.030 a new 3-months high.
Gold for December delivery was up 3.96% or 50.50 to $1325.00 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December fell 2.85% or 1.28 to hit $43.70 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract fell 2.52% or 1.16 to trade at $44.88 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 1.83% to 0.7620, while AUD/JPY fell 5.03% to 77.53.
The US Dollar Index was down 1.74% at 96.18.