Investing.com – Australia equities were higher at the close on Thursday, as gains in indices and sectors led shares higher.
At the close of trading in Sydney, shares added 0.04%.
Top gainers of the session were Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX:), which rose 13.72% or 0.31 points to close at 2.57. Meanwhile, Bega Cheese, LLC (ASX:) added 13.52% or 0.48 points to finish at 4.03 and Fletcher Building Ltd. (ASX:) was up 9.01%, or 0.30 points, at 3.63 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:), which fell 11.97% or 1.95 points to close at 14.34. Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:) was down 11.72% or 0.09p to finish at 0.64, while Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX:) was down 6.93%. or 0.13 p., to 1.71.
Declining shares outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 569 to 565, with 317 shares ending unchanged.
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX:) shares rise to 52-week high; adding 13.52% or from 0.48 to 4.03. Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:) shares fall to three-year low; losing 11.72% or from 0.09 to 0.64. Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX:) shares fall to three-year low; decreased by 6.93% or from 0.13 to 1.71.
The index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, fell 1.92% to 11.01.
Gold futures for April delivery rose 0.22%, or $4.45, to $2,038.75 a troy ounce. In commodities trading, crude oil for April delivery rose 0.32%, or 0.25, to $78.16 a barrel, while the April Brent contract rose 0.29%, or 0. .24, to $83.27 per barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.12% at 0.66, while AUD/JPY was up 0.08% at 98.56.
US Dollar Index futures fell 0.10% to 103.81.