Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Resources, Consumer Discretionary and Energy sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.75%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY), which rose 11.46% or 0.330 points to trade at 3.210 at the close. Meanwhile, Mineral Resources Ltd (AX:MIN) added 8.43% or 1.420 points to end at 18.270 and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (AX:PLS) was up 6.25% or 0.050 points to 0.850 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM), which fell 3.85% or 0.020 points to trade at 0.500 at the close. Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) declined 3.18% or 0.090 points to end at 2.740 and St Barbara Ltd (AX:SBM) was down 2.70% or 0.100 points to 3.600.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 1098 to 272 and 278 ended unchanged.
Shares in Seven West Media Ltd (AX:SWM) fell to all time lows; losing 3.85% or 0.020 to 0.500.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 16.27% to 18.557.
Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.20% or 2.60 to $1332.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 0.82% or 0.52 to hit $63.91 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract rose 0.75% or 0.50 to trade at $67.36 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.32% to 0.7880, while AUD/JPY fell 0.64% to 86.06.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.07% at 89.46.