Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Energy, Resources and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.29%.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC), which rose 6.91% or 0.345 points to trade at 5.335 at the close. Meanwhile, Invocare Ltd (AX:IVC) added 4.93% or 0.585 points to end at 12.445 and Domino'S Pizza Enterprises Ltd (AX:DMP) was up 4.35% or 1.850 points to 44.420 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were A2 Milk Company Ltd (AX:A2M), which fell 13.77% or 1.670 points to trade at 10.460 at the close. Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL) declined 9.94% or 1.910 points to end at 17.300 and Vocus Group Ltd (AX:VOC) was down 5.98% or 0.155 points to 2.435.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 617 to 597 and 393 ended unchanged.
Shares in Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AX:WHC) rose to 5-year highs; up 6.91% or 0.345 to 5.335.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 4.07% to 11.180.
Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.31% or 4.00 to $1294.30 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June fell 0.20% or 0.14 to hit $71.17 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract fell 0.22% or 0.17 to trade at $78.26 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.17% to 0.7486, while AUD/JPY rose 0.13% to 82.53.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.05% at 93.09.
