Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Gold, Metals & Mining and Resources sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.79%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd (AX:SAR), which rose 9.01% or 0.123 points to trade at 1.482 at the close. Meanwhile, Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG) added 7.98% or 0.170 points to end at 2.300 and Independence Group NL (AX:IGO) was up 6.94% or 0.270 points to 4.160 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Ozforex Grp (AX:OFX), which fell 8.06% or 0.170 points to trade at 1.940 at the close. Spark New Zealand Ltd (AX:SPK) declined 3.12% or 0.110 points to end at 3.415 and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (AX:JBH) was down 2.83% or 0.840 points to 28.850.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 685 to 389 and 327 ended unchanged.
Shares in Resolute Mining Ltd (AX:RSG) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 7.98% or 0.170 to 2.300.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 11.75% to 13.478.
Gold for December delivery was up 0.31% or 4.15 to $1335.55 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November rose 0.86% or 0.39 to hit $45.73 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract rose 0.79% or 0.37 to trade at $47.20 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.13% to 0.7636, while AUD/JPY rose 0.21% to 76.66.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.07% at 95.39.