Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Gold and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.04% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Programmed Maintenance Services Ltd (AX:PRG), which rose 14.37% or 0.255 points to trade at 2.030 at the close. Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) added 7.04% or 0.290 points to end at 4.410 and Alumina Ltd (AX:AWC) was up 3.86% or 0.050 points to 1.345 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Asaleo Care (AX:AHY), which fell 5.76% or 0.085 points to trade at 1.390 at the close. Graincorp Ltd (AX:GNC) declined 5.67% or 0.490 points to end at 8.150 and Sai Global Ltd (AX:SAI) was down 5.33% or 0.200 points to 3.550.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 593 to 496 and 344 ended unchanged.
Shares in Asaleo Care (AX:AHY) fell to all time lows; down 5.76% or 0.085 to 1.390. Shares in Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 7.04% or 0.290 to 4.410.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.12% to 14.756.
Gold for December delivery was down 0.16% or 2.15 to $1326.15 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 0.21% or 0.09 to hit $42.83 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract fell 0.49% or 0.22 to trade at $45.01 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.21% to 0.7487, while AUD/JPY rose 0.64% to 79.00.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.07% at 97.24.