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

The additional 1.29% was added at the Sydney close.

These were the best performers of the session Medibank Private Ltd (ASX:), rose 5.88%, or 0.200 points, to trade at 3.600 by the close. Meanwhile, Unibail Rodamco Westfield (ASX): Added 5.84%, or 0.29 points, to finish at 5.26 NIB Holdings Late trade saw an ASX increase of 3.73%, or 0.26 point to 7.23

Sims Metal Management Ltd. (ASX:) was the worst performer of the session, falling 6.25% or 1.05 point to close at 15.76. Magellan Financial Group Ltd. declined 5.44% (or 1.11) to finish at 19.29. James Hardie Industries PLC fell 4.13% (or 2.22) to 51.54.

The Sydney Stock Exchange saw rising stocks surpass declining ones by 809, 566, and 423 respectively.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd. shares (ASX) plunged to five-year lows. They lost 5.44%, or 1.11 to 19.29.

The , which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 6.18% to 12.689.

For February delivery, Gold Futures fell 0.2% to $1788.85 per troy. In commodities trading, crude oil for February delivery rose 0.38 or 0.48 to $79.84 per barrel. Meanwhile, the March Brent oil contract rose 0.45%, or 0.37, to trade at $82.36 per barrel.

AUD/USD dropped 0.08% to 0.7154 and AUD/JPY declined 0.05%, to 82.89.

US Dollar Index Futures were 0.12% lower at 96.215