Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the A-REITs, Healthcare and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.11% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR), which rose 3.64% or 0.080 points to trade at 2.280 at the close. Meanwhile, Greencross Ltd (AX:GXL) added 2.64% or 0.115 points to end at 4.475 and Pact Group Holdings Ltd (AX:PGH) was up 2.73% or 0.145 points to 5.465 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY), which fell 3.38% or 0.110 points to trade at 3.140 at the close. Perpetual Ltd (AX:PPT) declined 2.61% or 1.060 points to end at 39.520 and Monadelphous Group Ltd (AX:MND) was down 2.50% or 0.360 points to 14.050.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 700 to 557 and 402 ended unchanged.
Shares in Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.64% or 0.080 to 2.280.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 5.83% to 12.006.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 0.31% or 4.00 to $1282.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 1.60% or 1.04 to hit $63.81 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract fell 0.69% or 0.51 to trade at $72.93 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.11% to 0.7449, while AUD/JPY fell 0.07% to 82.29.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 94.50.