Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Gold, Utilities and Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.77%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG), which rose 7.08% or 0.115 points to trade at 1.740 at the close. Meanwhile, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) added 6.06% or 0.770 points to end at 13.480 and St Barbara Ltd (ASX:SBM) was up 5.34% or 0.180 points to 3.550 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:CUV), which fell 7.00% or 2.350 points to trade at 31.200 at the close. Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:CGC) declined 2.59% or 0.110 points to end at 4.140 and Speedcast International Ltd (ASX:SDA) was down 2.44% or 0.045 points to 1.800.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 760 to 409 and 382 ended unchanged.
Shares in Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 7.08% or 0.115 to 1.740. Shares in Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) rose to all time highs; gaining 6.06% or 0.770 to 13.480.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 4.15% to 10.415.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 0.88% or 12.55 to $1440.65 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August rose 1.23% or 0.68 to hit $55.98 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract rose 1.60% or 0.99 to trade at $62.92 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.18% to 0.7063, while AUD/JPY rose 0.20% to 76.06.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.11% at 96.558.