Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Gold, Consumer Staples and A-REITs sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.20%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Fairfax Media Ltd (AX:FXJ), which rose 6.54% or 0.070 points to trade at 1.140 at the close. Meanwhile, Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) added 4.21% or 0.020 points to end at 0.495 and BT Investment Management Ltd (AX:BTT) was up 3.91% or 0.460 points to 12.210 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Asaleo Care (AX:AHY), which fell 11.17% or 0.200 points to trade at 1.590 at the close. Metcash Ltd (AX:MTS) declined 5.80% or 0.130 points to end at 2.110 and Domino'S Pizza Enterprises Ltd (AX:DMP) was down 5.07% or 3.260 points to 61.000.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 667 to 397 and 386 ended unchanged.
Shares in Fairfax Media Ltd (AX:FXJ) rose to 5-year highs; rising 6.54% or 0.070 to 1.140.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.55% to 11.959.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.33% or 4.10 to $1231.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June rose 1.59% or 0.76 to hit $48.60 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 1.53% or 0.78 to trade at $51.62 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.19% to 0.7400, while AUD/JPY rose 0.19% to 83.91.
The US Dollar Index Futures was unchanged 0.00% at 99.05.