Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Metals & Mining, Materials and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.68% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR), which rose 8.18% or 0.090 points to trade at 1.190 at the close. Meanwhile, Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (AX:DHG) added 8.18% or 0.220 points to end at 2.910 and Webjet Ltd (AX:WEB) was up 4.30% or 0.630 points to 15.270 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (AX:SIQ), which fell 8.28% or 0.670 points to trade at 7.420 at the close. Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG) declined 4.55% or 0.025 points to end at 0.525 and Spark New Zealand Ltd (AX:SPK) was down 3.87% or 0.140 points to 3.480.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 604 to 528 and 366 ended unchanged.
Shares in Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (AX:SIQ) fell to 52-week lows; falling 8.28% or 0.670 to 7.420.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 0.12% to 11.318.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.16% or 2.05 to $1297.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May rose 0.42% or 0.26 to hit $62.84 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract rose 0.56% or 0.39 to trade at $69.76 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.53% to 0.7107, while AUD/JPY rose 0.59% to 79.17.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.19% at 96.738.