Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Industrials, IT and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.62% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Qantas Airways Ltd (AX:QAN), which rose 8.10% or 0.47 points to trade at 6.27 at the close. Meanwhile, Mineral Resources Ltd (AX:MIN) added 7.05% or 1.300 points to end at 19.740 and ARB Corporation Ltd (AX:ARB) was up 6.35% or 1.320 points to 22.100 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Gateway Lifestyle Group (AX:GTY), which fell 9.49% or 0.188 points to trade at 1.788 at the close. JB Hi-Fi Ltd (AX:JBH) declined 8.64% or 2.210 points to end at 23.360 and Invocare Ltd (AX:IVC) was down 7.11% or 0.930 points to 12.150.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 693 to 554 and 404 ended unchanged.
Shares in Gateway Lifestyle Group (AX:GTY) fell to all time lows; falling 9.49% or 0.188 to 1.788. Shares in ARB Corporation Ltd (AX:ARB) rose to all time highs; up 6.35% or 1.320 to 22.100. Shares in Invocare Ltd (AX:IVC) fell to 52-week lows; losing 7.11% or 0.930 to 12.150.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 6.74% to 11.333.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.15% or 1.90 to $1308.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June rose 0.49% or 0.33 to hit $67.58 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.14% or 0.10 to trade at $73.23 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.11% to 0.7499, while AUD/JPY rose 0.09% to 82.37.
The US Dollar Index Futures was unchanged 0.00% at 92.28.