Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Utilities, Healthcare and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.24%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX:SLR), which rose 4.95% or 0.055 points to trade at 1.165 at the close. Meanwhile, Virgin Money UK PLC (ASX:VUK) added 4.78% or 0.160 points to end at 3.510 and Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX:BGA) was up 4.50% or 0.170 points to 3.950 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:CUV), which fell 4.38% or 1.230 points to trade at 26.870 at the close. Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX:MYX) declined 4.30% or 0.020 points to end at 0.445 and Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX:JIN) was down 4.14% or 0.850 points to 19.670.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 636 to 529 and 317 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.90% to 11.476.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.45% or 6.65 to $1466.05 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 1.60% or 0.88 to hit $56.05 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 1.26% or 0.76 to trade at $61.25 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.16% to 0.6774, while AUD/JPY rose 0.21% to 74.28.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 98.262.