Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Telecoms Services, Utilities and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.29% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Super Retail Group Ltd (AX:SUL), which rose 4.81% or 0.350 points to trade at 7.620 at the close. Meanwhile, Costa Group Holdings Ltd (AX:CGC) added 4.63% or 0.240 points to end at 5.420 and Elders Ltd (AX:ELD) was up 3.34% or 0.210 points to 6.490 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Rio Tinto Ltd (AX:RIO), which fell 4.76% or 4.600 points to trade at 92.050 at the close. Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR) declined 4.28% or 0.055 points to end at 1.230 and Speedcast International Ltd (AX:SDA) was down 3.05% or 0.120 points to 3.820.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 575 to 553 and 355 ended unchanged.
Shares in Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR) fell to 5-year lows; down 4.28% or 0.055 to 1.230.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 2.16% to 11.933.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.22% or 2.85 to $1284.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April rose 0.11% or 0.06 to hit $56.28 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract rose 0.29% or 0.19 to trade at $66.18 a barrel.
AUD/USD was up 0.22% to 0.7047, while AUD/JPY rose 0.18% to 78.72.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.02% at 96.820.
