Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the A-REITs, IT and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18% to hit a new 5-year high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Ausdrill Ltd (AX:ASL), which rose 17.88% or 0.292 points to trade at 1.925 at the close. Meanwhile, Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM) added 7.22% or 0.070 points to end at 1.040 and Link Administration Holdings Ltd (AX:LNK) was up 6.06% or 0.460 points to 8.050 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Estia Health Ltd (AX:EHE), which fell 5.10% or 0.160 points to trade at 2.980 at the close. Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) declined 4.04% or 0.115 points to end at 2.735 and Platinum Asset Management Ltd (AX:PTM) was down 3.92% or 0.215 points to 5.265.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 725 to 502 and 392 ended unchanged.
Shares in Estia Health Ltd (AX:EHE) fell to 52-week lows; down 5.10% or 0.160 to 2.980. Shares in Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM) rose to 52-week highs; rising 7.22% or 0.070 to 1.040. Shares in Platinum Asset Management Ltd (AX:PTM) fell to 52-week lows; down 3.92% or 0.215 to 5.265.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 5.16% to 12.047.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.19% or 2.20 to $1181.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 0.03% or 0.02 to hit $65.44 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract fell 0.07% or 0.05 to trade at $71.38 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.11% to 0.7268, while AUD/JPY rose 0.09% to 80.60.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.03% at 96.45.