CANBERRA: Australia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Metals & Mining, Resources and Energy sectors led shares lower. At the close in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.72%. The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Asaleo Care (AX:AHY), which rose 11.27% or 0.160 points to trade at 1.580 at the close. Meanwhile, Bellamys Australia Ltd (AX:BAL) added 5.21% or 0.210 points to end at 4.240 and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AX:FMG) was up 2.93% or 0.190 points to 6.670 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Virtus Health Ltd (AX:VRT), which fell 17.55% or 1.090 points to trade at 5.120 at the close. Syrah Res F (AX:SYR) declined 6.10% or 0.200 points to end at 3.080 and Navitas Ltd (AX:NVT) was down 5.83% or 0.275 points to 4.445. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 660 to 426 and 348 ended unchanged. Shares in Virtus Health Ltd (AX:VRT) fell to 52-week lows; down 17.55% or 1.090 to 5.120. Shares in Navitas Ltd (AX:NVT) fell to 52-week lows; falling 5.83% or 0.275 to 4.445. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 3.02% to 13.792.
Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.65% or 7.75 to $1203.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.44% or 0.23 to hit $52.40 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.22% or 0.12 to trade at $55.20 a barrel. AUD/USD was up 0.12% to 0.7564, while AUD/JPY fell 0.15% to 85.83. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.11% at 100.31.
