CANBERRA: Australia stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Metals & Mining, Materials and Resources sectors led shares lower. At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.12%. The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Myer Holdings Ltd (AX:MYR), which rose 18.31% or 0.195 points to trade at 1.260 at the close. Meanwhile, Evolution Mining Ltd (AX:EVN) added 5.37% or 0.110 points to end at 2.160 and M Pharma Fp (AX:MYX) was up 3.73% or 0.050 points to 1.390 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Western Areas Ltd (AX:WSA), which fell 4.58% or 0.110 points to trade at 2.290 at the close. Galaxy Resources Ltd (AX:GXY) declined 3.00% or 0.015 points to end at 0.485 and Alumina Ltd (AX:AWC) was down 2.82% or 0.050 points to 1.725. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 520 to 466 and 348 ended unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 6.53% to 12.648. Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.70% or 8.75 to $1257.25 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May fell 0.98% or 0.47 to hit $47.50 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract fell 0.82% or 0.42 to trade at $50.50 a barrel. AUD/USD was up 0.13% to 0.7634, while AUD/JPY fell 0.78% to 84.18. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.52% at 99.07.
