Australia stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Energy, Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 7.36% to hit a new 3-years low.
The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Cimic Group Ltd (ASX:CIM), which rose 2.17% or 0.43 points to trade at 20.21 at the close. Meanwhile, Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX:PME) added 1.26% or 0.21 points to end at 16.86 and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) was down 0.38% or 0.005 points to 1.320 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS), which fell 20.00% or 0.040 points to trade at 0.160 at the close. Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) declined 19.65% or 1.36 points to end at 5.56 and Flight Centre Ltd (ASX:FLT) was down 18.22% or 4.37 points to 19.61.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 1313 to 100 and 194 ended unchanged.
Shares in Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) fell to 3-years lows; down 20.00% or 0.040 to 0.160. Shares in Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) fell to 3-years lows; down 19.65% or 1.36 to 5.56. Shares in Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) fell to 52-week lows; falling 0.38% or 0.005 to 1.320. Shares in Flight Centre Ltd (ASX:FLT) fell to 5-year lows; falling 18.22% or 4.37 to 19.61.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 35.87% to 22.982.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.36% or 5.90 to $1636.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April fell 4.18% or 1.38 to hit $31.60 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract fell 3.91% or 1.40 to trade at $34.39 a barrel.
AUD/USD was down 0.70% to 0.6439, while AUD/JPY fell 1.53% to 66.75.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.10% at 96.392.
