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 1.86% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Iluka Resources Ltd (AX:ILU), which rose 11.38% or 0.735 points to trade at 7.195 at the close. Meanwhile, Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) added 7.75% or 0.105 points to end at 1.460 and Independence Group NL (AX:IGO) was up 6.75% or 0.255 points to 4.035 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Primary Health Care Ltd (AX:PRY), which fell 2.88% or 0.110 points to trade at 3.710 at the close. Mesoblast Ltd (AX:MSB) declined 2.85% or 0.033 points to end at 1.107 and Oil Search Ltd (AX:OSH) was down 1.01% or 0.070 points to 6.880.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 751 to 350 and 310 ended unchanged.
Shares in Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) rose to 52-week highs; rising 7.75% or 0.105 to 1.460.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 3.70% to 17.402.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.34% or 4.60 to $1363.00 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 0.57% or 0.26 to hit $45.15 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract fell 0.45% or 0.21 to trade at $46.55 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.17% to 0.7559, while AUD/JPY rose 0.76% to 76.70.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.18% at 96.48.