Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Consumer Discretionary, Metals & Mining and Materials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.49% to hit a new 3-months low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX:HVN), which rose 4.68% or 0.210 points to trade at 4.700 at the close. Meanwhile, Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd (ASX:MRM) added 3.45% or 0.020 points to end at 0.600 and Recall Hold (ASX:REC) was up 3.13% or 0.220 points to 7.240 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Nine Ent Fpo (ASX:NEC), which fell 16.12% or 0.320 points to trade at 1.665 at the close. Seven West Media Ltd (ASX:SWM) declined 11.39% or 0.135 points to end at 1.050 and Technology One Ltd (ASX:TNE) was down 4.37% or 0.160 points to 3.500.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 637 to 415 and 189 ended unchanged.
Shares in Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX:HVN) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 4.68% or 0.210 to 4.700. Shares in Seven West Media Ltd (ASX:SWM) fell to all time lows; falling 11.39% or 0.135 to 1.050.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 1.45% to 18.645.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.25% or 2.90 to $1176.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.46% or 0.27 to hit $58.41 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.49% or 0.30 to trade at $62.99 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.39% to 0.7674, while AUD/JPY fell 0.43% to 95.48.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.07% at 95.16.