Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Gold, Metals & Mining and Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.01% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG), which rose 11.06% or 0.115 points to trade at 1.155 at the close. Meanwhile, Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) added 9.70% or 0.080 points to end at 0.905 and Asaleo Care (AX:AHY) was up 7.25% or 0.100 points to 1.480 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA), which fell 2.60% or 0.110 points to trade at 4.120 at the close. Caltex Australia Ltd (AX:CTX) declined 2.03% or 0.620 points to end at 29.980 and Myer Holdings Ltd (AX:MYR) was down 1.44% or 0.020 points to 1.370.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 666 to 319 and 272 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 15.42% to 12.169.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.36% or 4.15 to $1142.95 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 0.19% or 0.10 to hit $53.80 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract fell 0.21% or 0.12 to trade at $56.71 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.26% to 0.7205, while AUD/JPY rose 0.41% to 84.72.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.09% at 102.91.