Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Gold, Utilities and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.52% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Regis Resources Ltd (AX:RRL), which rose 7.26% or 0.170 points to trade at 2.510 at the close. Meanwhile, Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM) added 5.33% or 0.040 points to end at 0.790 and Bapcor Ltd (AX:BAP) was up 4.55% or 0.250 points to 5.740 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA), which fell 6.97% or 0.290 points to trade at 3.870 at the close. Syrah Res F (AX:SYR) declined 6.03% or 0.190 points to end at 2.960 and BT Investment Management Ltd (AX:BTT) was down 5.14% or 0.570 points to 10.530.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 526 to 487 and 326 ended unchanged.
Shares in Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) fell to 3-years lows; falling 6.97% or 0.290 to 3.870.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.16% to 11.006 a new 52-week low.
Gold for February delivery was down 0.42% or 4.85 to $1137.85 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 0.34% or 0.18 to hit $52.88 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract fell 0.27% or 0.15 to trade at $54.77 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.11% to 0.7255, while AUD/JPY rose 0.55% to 85.34.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.09% at 103.16.