Investing.com – Australia equities were higher at the close on Friday, as gains in indices and sectors led shares higher.
At the close of trading in Sydney, quotes rose by 1.07%, reaching a new all-time high.
Top gainers of the session were Virgin Money PLC (ASX:), which rose 32.74% or 1.01 points to trade at 4.08 at the close. Alumina Ltd (ASX:) was up 5.17% or 0.06p to finish at 1.22, while Polynovo Ltd (ASX:) was up 4.37% or 0 ,10 p., to 2.39 at the end of trading.
The worst performance of the session was mesoblast Ltd (ASX:), which fell 7.35% or 0.03 points to trade at 0.32 at the close. Perseus Mining, LLC (ASX:) was down 2.42% or 0.05 points to finish at 2.02 and Gold Road Resource Ltd. (ASX:) was down 2.42%, or 0.04 points, at 1.62.
Advancing shares outnumbered declining ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 648 to 513, with 347 ending unchanged.
Virgin Money PLC (ASX:) shares rise to 52-week high; an increase of 32.74% or from 1.01 to 4.08. Polynovo Ltd (ASX:) shares rise to 52-week high; adding 4.37% or 0.10–2.39.
The index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, rose 3.93% to 11.35.
Gold futures for April delivery fell 0.06%, or 1.35, to $2,163.85 a troy ounce. In commodities trading, crude oil for April delivery rose 0.72%, or 0.57, to $79.50 a barrel, while the May Brent contract rose 0.18%, or 0. .15, to $83.42 per barrel.
AUD/USD was unchanged 0.20% at 0.66 and AUD/JPY fell 0.01% to 98.00.
US Dollar Index futures fell 0.02% to 102.75.