Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Energy, Healthcare and IT sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.11%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Beach Energy Ltd (AX:BPT), which rose 3.50% or 0.045 points to trade at 1.330 at the close. Meanwhile, Oil Search Ltd (AX:OSH) added 3.47% or 0.270 points to end at 8.050 and Sims Metal Management Ltd (AX:SGM) was up 3.09% or 0.500 points to 16.700 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM), which fell 4.85% or 0.190 points to trade at 3.730 at the close. Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) declined 4.23% or 0.075 points to end at 1.700 and Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) was down 3.01% or 0.080 points to 2.580.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 665 to 548 and 364 ended unchanged.
Shares in Beach Energy Ltd (AX:BPT) rose to 3-years highs; rising 3.50% or 0.045 to 1.330. Shares in Oil Search Ltd (AX:OSH) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 3.47% or 0.270 to 8.050. Shares in Sims Metal Management Ltd (AX:SGM) rose to 5-year highs; rising 3.09% or 0.500 to 16.700.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.50% to 10.378.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.66% or 8.70 to $1309.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.75% or 0.46 to hit $62.09 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.41% or 0.28 to trade at $68.12 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.03% to 0.7837, while AUD/JPY rose 0.12% to 88.27.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.01% at 91.90.