Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Utilities, A-REITs and Metals & Mining sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.26%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG), which rose 5.65% or 0.350 points to trade at 6.540 at the close. Meanwhile, Viva Energy Reit Ltd (AX:VVR) added 5.02% or 0.110 points to end at 2.300 and Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA) was up 4.98% or 0.300 points to 6.330 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM), which fell 5.00% or 0.130 points to trade at 2.470 at the close. Syrah Res F (AX:SYR) declined 3.91% or 0.095 points to end at 2.335 and Orocobre Ltd (AX:ORE) was down 3.24% or 0.090 points to 2.690.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 543 to 524 and 341 ended unchanged.
Shares in Syrah Res F (AX:SYR) fell to 3-years lows; falling 3.91% or 0.095 to 2.335.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.36% to 9.620.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.04% or 0.45 to $1202.15 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 1.70% or 0.81 to hit $48.53 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract rose 1.45% or 0.74 to trade at $51.66 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.16% to 0.7572, while AUD/JPY rose 0.21% to 86.93.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.07% at 101.55.