Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Materials and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.22% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX:SLR), which rose 6.74% or 0.095 points to trade at 1.505 at the close. Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) added 3.68% or 0.420 points to end at 11.830 and Polynovo Ltd (ASX:PNV) was up 3.67% or 0.090 points to 2.540 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were NIB Holdings (ASX:NHF), which fell 12.69% or 0.830 points to trade at 5.710 at the close. Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX:JIN) declined 4.72% or 0.770 points to end at 15.550 and Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX:SGR) was down 2.55% or 0.120 points to 4.580.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 628 to 534 and 375 ended unchanged.
Shares in Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 3.68% or 0.420 to 11.830.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.69% to 11.689.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.09% or 1.45 to $1561.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 1.06% or 0.62 to hit $59.20 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 1.22% or 0.79 to trade at $65.64 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.18% to 0.6885, while AUD/JPY rose 0.20% to 75.87.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.01% at 97.350.