Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the IT, Utilities and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.10% to hit a new 3-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY), which rose 5.49% or 0.200 points to trade at 3.840 at the close. Meanwhile, Australian Pharma Industries Ltd (AX:API) added 4.43% or 0.070 points to end at 1.650 and Aveo Group (AX:AOG) was up 3.77% or 0.090 points to 2.480 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG), which fell 3.74% or 0.040 points to trade at 1.030 at the close. Super Retail Group Ltd (AX:SUL) declined 3.65% or 0.310 points to end at 8.180 and St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM) was down 3.36% or 0.100 points to 2.880.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 611 to 540 and 398 ended unchanged.
Shares in Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) rose to all time highs; gaining 5.49% or 0.200 to 3.840.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.00% to 11.303.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.18% or 2.30 to $1280.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November fell 0.06% or 0.03 to hit $52.01 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 0.07% or 0.04 to trade at $58.19 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.10% to 0.7854, while AUD/JPY rose 0.15% to 88.75.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 93.26.