Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Healthcare, IT and Metals & Mining sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.42%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were New Hope Corporation Ltd (AX:NHC), which rose 7.94% or 0.250 points to trade at 3.400 at the close. Meanwhile, TPG Telecom Ltd (AX:TPM) added 5.71% or 0.420 points to end at 7.780 and Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) was up 4.92% or 0.130 points to 2.770 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG), which fell 6.90% or 0.030 points to trade at 0.405 at the close. Qbe Insurance Group Ltd (AX:QBE) declined 4.14% or 0.430 points to end at 9.960 and Bingo Industries Ltd (AX:BIN) was down 3.79% or 0.080 points to 2.030.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 594 to 505 and 358 ended unchanged.
Shares in Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG) fell to 5-year lows; down 6.90% or 0.030 to 0.405. Shares in Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) rose to all time highs; up 4.92% or 0.130 to 2.770. Shares in Bingo Industries Ltd (AX:BIN) fell to 52-week lows; down 3.79% or 0.080 to 2.030.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 6.18% to 18.749.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.26% or 3.20 to $1252.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 0.16% or 0.08 to hit $51.08 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.13% or 0.08 to trade at $60.05 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.22% to 0.7206, while AUD/JPY rose 0.01% to 81.49.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.14% at 97.047.