Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Energy sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.33%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR), which rose 7.88% or 0.920 points to trade at 12.590 at the close. Meanwhile, Sims Metal Management Ltd (AX:SGM) added 6.49% or 0.830 points to end at 13.620 and Ansell Ltd (AX:ANN) was up 3.98% or 0.960 points to 25.100 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Automotive Group Holdings Ltd (AX:AHG), which fell 10.06% or 0.340 points to trade at 3.040 at the close. BT Investment Management Ltd (AX:BTT) declined 7.27% or 0.885 points to end at 11.295 and Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG) was down 5.83% or 0.048 points to 0.767.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 540 to 513 and 381 ended unchanged.
Shares in Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR) rose to 52-week highs; rising 7.88% or 0.920 to 12.590. Shares in Automotive Group Holdings Ltd (AX:AHG) fell to 3-years lows; down 10.06% or 0.340 to 3.040. Shares in Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG) fell to 52-week lows; down 5.83% or 0.048 to 0.767.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 4.66% to 11.702.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.49% or 6.08 to $1259.18 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.82% or 0.42 to hit $51.78 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.85% or 0.46 to trade at $54.42 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.05% to 0.7510, while AUD/JPY rose 0.20% to 83.84.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 96.82.