Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Materials and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.70% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG), which rose 6.17% or 0.400 points to trade at 6.880 at the close. Meanwhile, Aconex Ltd (AX:ACX) added 5.63% or 0.200 points to end at 3.750 and Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) was up 5.49% or 0.140 points to 2.690 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Domino'S Pizza Enterprises Ltd (AX:DMP), which fell 4.86% or 3.110 points to trade at 60.940 at the close. Bendigo And Adelaide Bank Ltd (AX:BEN) declined 4.83% or 0.610 points to end at 12.020 and Scentre (AX:SCG) was down 2.65% or 0.120 points to 4.410.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 623 to 477 and 341 ended unchanged.
Shares in Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) rose to 5-year highs; up 6.17% or 0.400 to 6.880.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 4.26% to 12.183.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.42% or 5.15 to $1230.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.19% or 0.10 to hit $53.76 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.16% or 0.09 to trade at $56.61 a barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.00% to 0.7666, while AUD/JPY rose 0.58% to 87.31.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.18% at 100.90.