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

After the Sydney closing, the index rose by 0.05% and reached a new 3-months record.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd. (ASX) was the best performer of the session, rising 3.68% (0.77 points) to close at 21.72. Meanwhile, Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX 🙂 gained 3.19%, or 0.17 points, to finish at 5.50. Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd. (ASX 🙂 was up 2.2%, or 0.080 point to 2.920 in late trading.

They were also the session’s worst performers Idp Education Ltd (ASX:), fell 5.14%, or 1.83 points, to trade at 33.79 by the close. Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX) fell 4.11%, or 0.065 point to close at 1.515. Afterpay Touch Group Ltd Ltd (ASX) dropped 3.03%, or 2.58 points, to 82.50.

Stocks that are rising outnumbered those in decline on the Sydney Stock Exchange were 734 to 6,38 respectively, while 411 ended unaffected.

Afterpay Touch Group Ltd shares (ASX) dropped to 52 week lows. They fell 3.03%, or 2.58 to 82.550.

The , which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 2.35% to 10.991.

For February delivery, Gold Futures fell 0.49% to $1797.00 an ounce. Other commodities traded included Crude oil, which fell 0.19 percent to reach $76.37/barrel, and March Brent oil, which fell 0.228% to trade at $78.99/barrel.

The AUD/USD exchange rate was up 0.1% to 0.7255 while the AUD/JPY traded at 83.54, up 0.22%.

At 96.080, the US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.16%.