Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Utilities, Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.18% to hit a new 3-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Vocus Group Ltd (AX:VOC), which rose 6.84% or 0.180 points to trade at 2.810 at the close. Meanwhile, Australian Pharma Industries Ltd (AX:API) added 3.64% or 0.060 points to end at 1.710 and Tassal Group Ltd (AX:TGR) was up 3.54% or 0.140 points to 4.090 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Spark New Zealand Ltd (AX:SPK), which fell 3.23% or 0.110 points to trade at 3.300 at the close. Orocobre Ltd (AX:ORE) declined 3.20% or 0.160 points to end at 4.840 and Ioof Holdings Ltd (AX:IFL) was down 3.05% or 0.360 points to 11.440.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 582 to 579 and 360 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.13% to 11.288.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.31% or 3.95 to $1286.05 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November rose 0.41% or 0.21 to hit $51.50 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 0.31% or 0.18 to trade at $57.41 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.41% to 0.7847, while AUD/JPY rose 0.14% to 88.78.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.38% at 93.35.