Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Energy, Utilities and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.36%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX), which rose 16.20% or 1.15 points to trade at 8.25 at the close. Meanwhile, Boral Ltd. (ASX:BLD) added 14.69% or 0.42 points to end at 3.28 and Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) was up 5.62% or 1.85 points to 34.74 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bendigo And Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX:BEN), which fell 7.19% or 0.76 points to trade at 9.81 at the close. Perenti Global Ltd (ASX:PRN) declined 6.54% or 0.05 points to end at 0.71 and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) was down 6.11% or 1.43 points to 21.98.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 769 to 660 and 402 ended unchanged.
Shares in Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 16.20% or 1.15 to 8.25. Shares in Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.62% or 1.85 to 34.74.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.99% to 15.60.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 0.02% or 0.45 to $1,852.55 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.77% or 0.92 to hit $120.33 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 0.59% or 0.71 to trade at $121.28 a barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.28% to 0.72, while AUD/JPY rose 0.37% to 96.18.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.25% at 102.58.