Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Healthcare, Financials and IT sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.90% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Syrah Res F (AX:SYR), which rose 6.71% or 0.220 points to trade at 3.500 at the close. Meanwhile, Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) added 6.25% or 0.035 points to end at 0.595 and Cochlear Ltd (AX:COH) was up 4.51% or 5.570 points to 129.120 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG), which fell 3.79% or 0.230 points to trade at 5.840 at the close. Tatts Group Ltd (AX:TTS) declined 2.60% or 0.120 points to end at 4.490 and Reliance Worldwide Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd (AX:RWC) was down 2.48% or 0.080 points to 3.140.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 597 to 446 and 312 ended unchanged.
Shares in Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) rose to 3-years highs; up 6.25% or 0.035 to 0.595.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.03% to 12.625.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.11% or 1.25 to $1174.65 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 0.54% or 0.29 to hit $53.70 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract fell 0.46% or 0.26 to trade at $56.84 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.08% to 0.7310, while AUD/JPY rose 0.48% to 85.86.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.17% at 102.34.