Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the A-REITs, Utilities and Energy sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.06% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX:NIC), which rose 8.97% or 0.07 points to trade at 0.79 at the close. Meanwhile, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:TAH) added 5.92% or 0.05 points to end at 0.81 and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) was up 5.04% or 0.41 points to 8.55 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Appen Ltd (ASX:APX), which fell 5.88% or 0.02 points to trade at 0.32 at the close. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) declined 4.68% or 0.04 points to end at 0.82 and Domino'S Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX:DMP) was down 3.45% or 1.43 points to 39.97.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 599 to 543 and 372 ended unchanged.
Shares in Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) fell to 52-week lows; down 4.68% or 0.04 to 0.82.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.05% to 11.12.
Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.03% or 0.60 to $2,051.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.42% or 0.33 to hit $77.49 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.44% or 0.36 to trade at $82.14 a barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.50% to 0.66, while AUD/JPY fell 0.49% to 96.98.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.20% at 103.42.