Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Gold, Energy and Resources sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.02% to hit a new 1-month low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Speedcast International Ltd (AX:SDA), which rose 3.11% or 0.160 points to trade at 5.310 at the close. Meanwhile, Nanosonics Ltd (AX:NAN) added 2.33% or 0.060 points to end at 2.630 and Duluxgroup Ltd (AX:DLX) was up 1.90% or 0.140 points to 7.520 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY), which fell 6.63% or 0.270 points to trade at 3.800 at the close. Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) declined 6.18% or 0.290 points to end at 4.400 and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (AX:PLS) was down 5.63% or 0.060 points to 1.005.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 652 to 583 and 395 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 7.74% to 11.539.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.86% or 11.50 to $1327.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.31% or 0.20 to hit $64.17 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.10% or 0.07 to trade at $69.45 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.03% to 0.7965, while AUD/JPY fell 0.08% to 88.60.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.06% at 90.60.