Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Gold, Metals & Mining and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.71%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Northern Star Resources Ltd (AX:NST), which rose 14.86% or 0.630 points to trade at 4.870 at the close. Meanwhile, St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM) added 14.89% or 0.390 points to end at 3.010 and Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) was up 13.93% or 0.280 points to 2.290 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Insurance Australia Group Ltd (AX:IAG), which fell 2.48% or 0.145 points to trade at 5.705 at the close. Caltex Australia Ltd (AX:CTX) declined 2.19% or 0.730 points to end at 32.610 and Qbe Insurance Group Ltd (AX:QBE) was down 2.10% or 0.260 points to 12.150.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 531 to 486 and 304 ended unchanged.
Shares in Northern Star Resources Ltd (AX:NST) rose to all time highs; rising 14.86% or 0.630 to 4.870. Shares in St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM) rose to 5-year highs; rising 14.89% or 0.390 to 3.010. Shares in Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 13.93% or 0.280 to 2.290.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.97% to 17.253.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.10% or 1.20 to $1244.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.95% or 0.46 to hit $49.08 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 0.79% or 0.39 to trade at $50.03 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.53% to 0.7329, while AUD/JPY fell 0.10% to 78.40.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.32% at 94.20.