Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Gold, IT and Healthcare sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.18% to hit a new 3-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Asaleo Care (AX:AHY), which rose 5.52% or 0.080 points to trade at 1.530 at the close. Meanwhile, Myer Holdings Ltd (AX:MYR) added 4.70% or 0.035 points to end at 0.780 and Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) was up 3.98% or 0.090 points to 2.350 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Independence Group NL (AX:IGO), which fell 6.94% or 0.310 points to trade at 4.160 at the close. Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) declined 6.49% or 0.240 points to end at 3.460 and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) was down 3.56% or 0.180 points to 4.870.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 617 to 560 and 359 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.13% to 11.100.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.30% or 3.81 to $1282.81 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December fell 0.13% or 0.07 to hit $52.11 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract fell 0.12% or 0.07 to trade at $58.37 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.08% to 0.7709, while AUD/JPY fell 0.17% to 87.47.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 93.41.