Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.19%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were A2 Milk Company Ltd (AX:A2M), which rose 9.25% or 0.185 points to trade at 2.185 at the close. Meanwhile, Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) added 7.75% or 0.245 points to end at 3.405 and Sandfire Resources NL (AX:SFR) was up 5.90% or 0.350 points to 6.280 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL), which fell 19.76% or 1.320 points to trade at 5.360 at the close. Platinum Asset Management Ltd (AX:PTM) declined 3.18% or 0.170 points to end at 5.180 and Breville Group Ltd (AX:BRG) was down 3.06% or 0.270 points to 8.560.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 553 to 510 and 349 ended unchanged.
Shares in Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL) fell to 52-week lows; falling 19.76% or 1.320 to 5.360. Shares in Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) rose to 52-week highs; up 7.75% or 0.245 to 3.405.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.28% to 13.092 a new 1-month high.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.25% or 2.95 to $1188.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.26% or 0.13 to hit $50.95 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.13% or 0.07 to trade at $53.71 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.05% to 0.7373, while AUD/JPY rose 0.30% to 85.57.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.10% at 102.11.