Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Telecoms Services, Metals & Mining and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.74% to hit a new 5-year high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Reliance Worldwide Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd (AX:RWC), which rose 4.47% or 0.180 points to trade at 4.210 at the close. Meanwhile, Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) added 3.85% or 0.155 points to end at 4.185 and Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) was up 3.57% or 0.120 points to 3.480 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bega Cheese Ltd (AX:BGA), which fell 2.56% or 0.185 points to trade at 7.035 at the close. Lynas Corporation Ltd (AX:LYC) declined 2.33% or 0.055 points to end at 2.305 and Wisetech Global Ltd (AX:WTC) was down 2.14% or 0.310 points to 14.150.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 772 to 490 and 341 ended unchanged.
Shares in Reliance Worldwide Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd (AX:RWC) rose to all time highs; rising 4.47% or 0.180 to 4.210. Shares in Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) rose to all time highs; up 3.85% or 0.155 to 4.185. Shares in Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA) rose to 52-week highs; up 3.57% or 0.120 to 3.480.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 9.36% to 9.407 a new 6-months low.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.08% or 1.00 to $1322.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.02% or 0.01 to hit $62.02 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract fell 0.01% or 0.01 to trade at $68.06 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.11% to 0.7855, while AUD/JPY rose 0.05% to 88.72.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.02% at 91.58.