Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the IT, Resources and Financials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 3.35% to hit a new 1-month low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN), which rose 13.93% or 0.305 points to trade at 2.495 at the close. Meanwhile, St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM) added 9.47% or 0.270 points to end at 3.120 and Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) was up 9.51% or 0.125 points to 1.440 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were CYBG PLC (AX:CYB), which fell 17.69% or 0.980 points to trade at 4.560 at the close. BT Investment Management Ltd (AX:BTT) declined 13.79% or 1.400 points to end at 8.750 and Henderson Group PLC (AX:HGG) was down 11.44% or 0.580 points to 4.490.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 938 to 227 and 289 ended unchanged.
Shares in Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 13.93% or 0.305 to 2.495.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 13.92% to 24.688 a new 3-months high.
Gold for August delivery was up 4.90% or 61.90 to $1325.00 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 5.19% or 2.60 to hit $47.51 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract fell 5.19% or 2.64 to trade at $48.27 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 3.06% to 0.7384, while AUD/JPY fell 6.48% to 75.62.
The US Dollar Index was up 2.89% at 96.03.