Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Consumer Discretionary, IT and Consumer Staples sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.13%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT), which rose 4.62% or 0.06 points to trade at 1.25 at the close. Meanwhile, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) added 3.42% or 0.86 points to end at 25.99 and Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) was up 3.30% or 0.02 points to 0.47 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Pointsbet Holdings Ltd (ASX:PBH), which fell 6.38% or 0.05 points to trade at 0.66 at the close. Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) declined 3.32% or 0.25 points to end at 7.29 and Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) was down 3.07% or 0.22 points to 6.95.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 612 to 477 and 425 ended unchanged.
Shares in Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW) rose to 52-week highs; up 3.30% or 0.02 to 0.47.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.35% to 12.10.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.79% or 21.20 to $2,669.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November rose 1.69% or 1.18 to hit $71.01 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 1.56% or 1.15 to trade at $74.71 a barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.08% to 0.69, while AUD/JPY rose 0.27% to 99.09.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 100.99.