Investing.com – Australia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Financials, Energy and IT sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 declined 2.88% to hit a new 52-week low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Ozforex Grp (AX:OFX), which rose 12.85% or 0.230 points to trade at 2.020 at the close. Meanwhile, Regis Resources Ltd (AX:RRL) added 12.30% or 0.310 points to end at 2.830 and Newcrest Mining Ltd (AX:NCM) was up 8.25% or 1.280 points to 16.800 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Broadspectrum Ltd (AX:BRS), which fell 13.15% or 0.165 points to trade at 1.090 at the close. Bank Of Queensland Ltd. (AX:BOQ) declined 8.12% or 1.030 points to end at 11.660 and APN Outdoor Group Ltd (AX:APO) was down 7.90% or 0.430 points to 5.010.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 730 to 229 and 237 ended unchanged.
Shares in Regis Resources Ltd (AX:RRL) rose to 52-week highs; up 12.30% or 0.310 to 2.830. Shares in Newcrest Mining Ltd (AX:NCM) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 8.25% or 1.280 to 16.800.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 21.80% to 26.709 a new 3-months high.
Gold for April delivery was down 0.38% or 4.50 to $1193.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 0.93% or 0.28 to hit $29.96 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.08% or 0.03 to trade at $32.85 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.70% to 0.7038, while AUD/JPY fell 1.48% to 80.89.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.11% at 96.65.