Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Gold sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.21%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL), which rose 9.67% or 0.740 points to trade at 8.390 at the close. Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) added 7.36% or 0.370 points to end at 5.400 and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (AX:PLS) was up 5.51% or 0.035 points to 0.670 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR), which fell 13.43% or 0.270 points to trade at 1.740 at the close. G.U.D. Holdings Ltd (AX:GUD) declined 9.02% or 1.100 points to end at 11.100 and Credit Corp Group Ltd (AX:CCP) was down 6.67% or 1.520 points to 21.260.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 594 to 533 and 376 ended unchanged.
Shares in Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 7.36% or 0.370 to 5.400. Shares in G.U.D. Holdings Ltd (AX:GUD) fell to 52-week lows; down 9.02% or 1.100 to 11.100.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.73% to 13.326.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.38% or 4.95 to $1313.85 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 0.13% or 0.07 to hit $53.38 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract rose 0.25% or 0.15 to trade at $61.35 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.64% to 0.7198, while AUD/JPY rose 0.55% to 78.67.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.10% at 95.417.