Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Healthcare, Energy and Telecoms Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 1.00% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Sandfire Resources NL (AX:SFR), which rose 7.69% or 0.420 points to trade at 5.880 at the close. Meanwhile, Karoon Gas Australia Ltd (AX:KAR) added 6.80% or 0.115 points to end at 1.805 and Beach Energy Ltd (AX:BPT) was up 5.21% or 0.025 points to 0.505 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Bluescope Steel Ltd (AX:BSL), which fell 4.88% or 0.220 points to trade at 4.290 at the close. Northern Star Resources Ltd (AX:NST) declined 3.15% or 0.090 points to end at 2.770 and Domino'S Pizza Enterprises Ltd (AX:DMP) was down 3.13% or 1.860 points to 57.480.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 569 to 410 and 143 ended unchanged.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 1.38% to 16.101.
Gold for February delivery was up 0.16% or 1.70 to $1069.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February fell 1.76% or 0.67 to hit $37.20 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract fell 0.56% or 0.21 to trade at $37.40 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.12% to 0.7288, while AUD/JPY fell 0.15% to 87.74.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.06% at 98.28.