Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Telecoms Services, A-REITs and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.69% to hit a new 52-week low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG), which rose 6.39% or 0.070 points to trade at 1.165 at the close. Meanwhile, Healthscope (AX:HSO) added 6.31% or 0.130 points to end at 2.190 and Northern Star Resources Ltd (AX:NST) was up 3.73% or 0.320 points to 8.910 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Orocobre Ltd (AX:ORE), which fell 10.98% or 0.370 points to trade at 3.000 at the close. Pilbara Minerals Ltd (AX:PLS) declined 8.66% or 0.055 points to end at 0.580 and Vocus Group Ltd (AX:VOC) was down 8.11% or 0.270 points to 3.060.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 746 to 401 and 337 ended unchanged.
Shares in Orocobre Ltd (AX:ORE) fell to 52-week lows; down 10.98% or 0.370 to 3.000. Shares in Pilbara Minerals Ltd (AX:PLS) fell to 52-week lows; falling 8.66% or 0.055 to 0.580.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 1.17% to 20.351.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.41% or 5.20 to $1262.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.85% or 0.39 to hit $46.27 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.70% or 0.38 to trade at $54.73 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.04% to 0.7110, while AUD/JPY rose 0.16% to 79.22.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.24% at 95.953.