Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Industrials, Utilities and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.53%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Syrah Res F (AX:SYR), which rose 6.42% or 0.190 points to trade at 3.150 at the close. Meanwhile, Nextdc Ltd (AX:NXT) added 3.71% or 0.125 points to end at 3.495 and Downer Edi Ltd (AX:DOW) was up 3.48% or 0.210 points to 6.250 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM), which fell 9.20% or 0.075 points to trade at 0.740 at the close. M Pharma Fp (AX:MYX) declined 6.92% or 0.090 points to end at 1.210 and Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) was down 5.03% or 0.220 points to 4.150.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 533 to 514 and 311 ended unchanged.
Shares in Downer Edi Ltd (AX:DOW) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 3.48% or 0.210 to 6.250. Shares in Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) fell to 52-week lows; losing 5.03% or 0.220 to 4.150.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.45% to 11.249 a new 52-week low.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.30% or 3.45 to $1140.85 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.83% or 0.44 to hit $53.39 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.65% or 0.36 to trade at $55.57 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.19% to 0.7293, while AUD/JPY fell 0.73% to 85.53.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.26% at 102.66.