Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Utilities, Healthcare and Gold sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.17%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Primary Health Care Ltd (AX:PRY), which rose 5.98% or 0.220 points to trade at 3.900 at the close. Meanwhile, Healthscope (AX:HSO) added 5.45% or 0.110 points to end at 2.130 and Cromwell Property Group (AX:CMW) was up 3.93% or 0.038 points to 0.993 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR), which fell 5.47% or 0.150 points to trade at 2.590 at the close. Beach Energy Ltd (AX:BPT) declined 3.97% or 0.025 points to end at 0.605 and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) was down 3.71% or 0.180 points to 4.670.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 543 to 536 and 356 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.94% to 11.967.
Gold Futures for June delivery was down 0.39% or 4.97 to $1267.03 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.85% or 0.41 to hit $48.73 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 0.81% or 0.41 to trade at $51.17 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.35% to 0.7404, while AUD/JPY fell 0.17% to 82.17.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.07% at 96.98.