Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Healthcare, Consumer Discretionary and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.17%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Adelaide Brighton Ltd (ASX:ABC), which rose 5.28% or 0.170 points to trade at 3.390 at the close. Meanwhile, Polynovo Ltd (ASX:PNV) added 4.88% or 0.140 points to end at 3.010 and Brickworks Ltd (ASX:BKW) was up 4.71% or 0.89 points to 19.80 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG), which fell 26.19% or 0.165 points to trade at 0.465 at the close. Hub24 Ltd (ASX:HUB) declined 13.99% or 3.39 points to end at 20.85 and Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX:NWL) was down 13.66% or 2.18 points to 13.78.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 737 to 580 and 355 ended unchanged.
Shares in Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX:RSG) fell to 5-year lows; falling 26.19% or 0.165 to 0.465.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 13.06% to 11.406 a new 1-month low.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.05% or 0.95 to $1732.25 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May fell 1.42% or 0.87 to hit $60.31 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract fell 1.20% or 0.77 to trade at $63.64 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.17% to 0.7595, while AUD/JPY rose 0.39% to 82.75.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 92.623.