Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Healthcare, Metals & Mining and Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.02%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG), which rose 5.22% or 0.190 points to trade at 3.830 at the close. Meanwhile, Lynas Corporation Ltd (AX:LYC) added 4.41% or 0.075 points to end at 1.775 and Resmed Inc DRC (AX:RMD) was up 3.64% or 0.500 points to 14.250 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Primary Health Care Ltd (AX:PRY), which fell 7.66% or 0.210 points to trade at 2.530 at the close. G8 Education Ltd (AX:GEM) declined 7.28% or 0.150 points to end at 1.910 and AMP Ltd (AX:AMP) was down 6.72% or 0.170 points to 2.360.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 593 to 554 and 347 ended unchanged.
Shares in Primary Health Care Ltd (AX:PRY) fell to 52-week lows; falling 7.66% or 0.210 to 2.530. Shares in G8 Education Ltd (AX:GEM) fell to 5-year lows; losing 7.28% or 0.150 to 1.910. Shares in AMP Ltd (AX:AMP) fell to all time lows; losing 6.72% or 0.170 to 2.360.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 9.68% to 20.124.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.19% or 2.40 to $1234.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December fell 1.00% or 0.67 to hit $66.66 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract fell 0.77% or 0.59 to trade at $76.30 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.69% to 0.7030, while AUD/JPY fell 0.95% to 78.85.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.25% at 96.42.