Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the A-REITs, Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.11% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG), which rose 4.50% or 0.025 points to trade at 0.580 at the close. Meanwhile, Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) added 4.26% or 0.040 points to end at 0.980 and NIB Holdings (ASX:NHF) was up 3.05% or 0.22 points to 7.43 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX:NIC), which fell 3.52% or 0.040 points to trade at 1.095 at the close. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) declined 3.40% or 0.820 points to end at 23.270 and Champion Iron Ltd (ASX:CIA) was down 3.34% or 0.240 points to 6.950.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 767 to 607 and 393 ended unchanged.
Shares in NIB Holdings (ASX:NHF) rose to 52-week highs; rising 3.05% or 0.22 to 7.43.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 2.96% to 11.399.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.01% or 0.27 to $1814.77 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 0.13% or 0.09 to hit $68.06 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract fell 0.17% or 0.12 to trade at $70.26 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.28% to 0.7400, while AUD/JPY rose 0.45% to 81.14.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 92.233.