Investing.com – Australia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the , and sectors led shares higher.

The added 0.12% reached a new one-month high at the Sydney close.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd. (ASX) was the best performer of the session, rising 6.51% (0.27 points) to close at 4.42. Meanwhile, Brickworks Ltd (ASX) increased 4.96% to 22.87, or 1.08 points. JB Hi-Fi Ltd climbed 4.34% to 52.90 (ASX) in late trade.

Zip Co Ltd. (ASX:) fell 5.17%, or 0.09 points, to trade at 1.56 by the closing. Polynovo Ltd. ASX: fell by 4.31% (0.05 points) to finish at 1.11, while Healius Ltd. was down by 4.26% (0.09 points) to 4.27.

The Sydney Stock Exchange saw falling stocks surpass advancing stock by 778, 622 and 394 respectively.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd. (ASX) shares rose to 52 week highs. They rose 6.51% (0.27 to 4.42).

The , which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 1.94% to 14.33 a new 1-month low.

For April delivery, Gold Futures rose 0.31% to $1943.40 an ounce. Other commodities traded included Crude oil, which fell 0.32 or 0.28 to reach $114.61/barrel, while May Brent oil contracts rose 0.16 or 0.20, trading at $121.80/barrel.

AUD/USD was steady at 0.25 to 0.75 while AUD/JPY rose by 0.14% and reached 90.96.

US Dollar Index Futures were up 0.2% at 98.85