Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.15%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Sandfire Resources NL (AX:SFR), which rose 5.50% or 0.380 points to trade at 7.290 at the close. Meanwhile, Independence Group NL (AX:IGO) added 5.04% or 0.240 points to end at 5.000 and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) was up 4.30% or 0.210 points to 5.090 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were CYBG PLC (AX:CYB), which fell 2.41% or 0.140 points to trade at 5.680 at the close. Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) declined 2.07% or 0.150 points to end at 7.080 and Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (AX:TWE) was down 1.94% or 0.310 points to 15.650.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 686 to 582 and 324 ended unchanged.
Shares in Sandfire Resources NL (AX:SFR) rose to 3-years highs; rising 5.50% or 0.380 to 7.290. Shares in Independence Group NL (AX:IGO) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.04% or 0.240 to 5.000.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.46% to 10.430.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.02% or 0.20 to $1315.90 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.03% or 0.02 to hit $60.39 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.02% or 0.01 to trade at $66.58 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.13% to 0.7820, while AUD/JPY fell 0.10% to 87.82.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.03% at 91.59.