Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.09%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Greencross Ltd (AX:GXL), which rose 11.34% or 0.660 points to trade at 6.480 at the close. Meanwhile, Corp Trav F (AX:CTD) added 8.91% or 1.000 points to end at 12.220 and Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) was up 7.72% or 0.440 points to 6.140 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (AX:LNG), which fell 8.67% or 0.065 points to trade at 0.685 at the close. OZ Minerals Ltd (AX:OZL) declined 7.89% or 0.330 points to end at 3.850 and AWE Ltd (AX:AWE) was down 6.80% or 0.035 points to 0.480.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 506 to 475 and 150 ended unchanged.
Shares in Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (AX:LNG) fell to 52-week lows; down 8.67% or 0.065 to 0.685. Shares in Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) rose to all time highs; gaining 7.72% or 0.440 to 6.140. Shares in AWE Ltd (AX:AWE) fell to 5-year lows; down 6.80% or 0.035 to 0.480.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.65% to 18.245.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.63% or 6.60 to $1056.20 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January fell 0.33% or 0.12 to hit $34.84 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.65% or 0.24 to trade at $37.13 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.21% to 0.7141, while AUD/JPY fell 0.41% to 87.00.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.41% at 98.80.