CANBERRA: Australia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Energy, Gold and Industrials sectors led shares higher. At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.27% to hit a new 6-months high. The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Vocus Group Ltd (AX:VOC), which rose 5.43% or 0.150 points to trade at 2.910 at the close. Meanwhile, Blackmores Ltd (AX:BKL) added 4.41% or 6.68 points to end at 158.00 and Costa Group Holdings Ltd (AX:CGC) was up 4.10% or 0.240 points to 6.100 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Greencross Ltd (AX:GXL), which fell 5.23% or 0.290 points to trade at 5.250 at the close. Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (AX:SIG) declined 4.88% or 0.040 points to end at 0.780 and Syrah Resources Ltd (AX:SYR) was down 4.71% or 0.170 points to 3.440. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 624 to 619 and 327 ended unchanged. Shares in Blackmores Ltd (AX:BKL) rose to 52-week highs; up 4.41% or 6.68 to 158.00. Shares in Costa Group Holdings Ltd (AX:CGC) rose to all time highs; gaining 4.10% or 0.240 to 6.100. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 0.17% to 11.251. Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.03% or 0.44 to $1272.24 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 0.02% or 0.01 to hit $53.91 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract fell 0.03% or 0.02 to trade at $60.11 a barrel. AUD/USD was down 0.04% to 0.7674, while AUD/JPY fell 0.09% to 87.20. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 94.68.
