Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Gold, Utilities and A-REITs sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.05% to hit a new 5-year high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR), which rose 5.47% or 0.140 points to trade at 2.700 at the close. Meanwhile, Nanosonics Ltd (AX:NAN) added 4.81% or 0.220 points to end at 4.790 and IPH Ltd (AX:IPH) was up 3.86% or 0.270 points to 7.270 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Flight Centre Ltd (AX:FLT), which fell 11.70% or 5.170 points to trade at 39.000 at the close. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) declined 5.53% or 0.420 points to end at 7.180 and Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR) was down 4.49% or 0.680 points to 14.470.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 580 to 566 and 422 ended unchanged.
Shares in Flight Centre Ltd (AX:FLT) fell to 52-week lows; falling 11.70% or 5.170 to 39.000. Shares in Nanosonics Ltd (AX:NAN) rose to all time highs; rising 4.81% or 0.220 to 4.790. Shares in IPH Ltd (AX:IPH) rose to 3-years highs; rising 3.86% or 0.270 to 7.270.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 2.40% to 11.771.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.32% or 4.05 to $1283.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June fell 0.46% or 0.30 to hit $64.91 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract fell 0.24% or 0.18 to trade at $74.17 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.21% to 0.7028, while AUD/JPY rose 0.27% to 78.49.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.09% at 97.833.