Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Energy, Resources and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.24% to hit a new 6-months low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Healthscope (AX:HSO), which rose 20.79% or 0.370 points to trade at 2.150 at the close. Meanwhile, Regis Resources Ltd (AX:RRL) added 5.53% or 0.230 points to end at 4.390 and Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) was up 5.00% or 0.120 points to 2.520 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Super Retail Group Ltd (AX:SUL), which fell 10.91% or 1.020 points to trade at 8.330 at the close. Worleyparsons Ltd (AX:WOR) declined 6.55% or 1.108 points to end at 15.810 and Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL) was down 6.01% or 0.510 points to 7.980.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 746 to 439 and 368 ended unchanged.
Shares in Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR) rose to all time highs; up 5.00% or 0.120 to 2.520.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 3.52% to 17.508.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.06% or 0.70 to $1236.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 0.15% or 0.10 to hit $66.53 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 0.37% or 0.28 to trade at $76.72 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.20% to 0.7100, while AUD/JPY rose 0.31% to 79.91.
The US Dollar Index Futures was unchanged 0.00% at 95.75.