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

At the close in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.16%.

The best performers of the session on the S&P/ASX 200 were Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS ), which rose 7.14% or 0.17 points to trade at 2.47 at the close. Meanwhile, Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL ) added 4.56% or 0.17 points to end at 3.90 and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST ) was up 3.85% or 0.69 points to 18.63 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA ), which fell 8.63% or 0.17 points to trade at 1.80 at the close. Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB ) declined 6.05% or 0.13 points to end at 2.02 and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC ) was down 4.32% or 3.61 points to 80.05.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Sydney Stock Exchange by 535 to 532 and 435 ended unchanged.

Shares in Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA ) fell to 5-year lows; losing 8.63% or 0.17 to 1.80. Shares in Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL ) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 4.56% or 0.17 to 3.90. Shares in Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST ) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.85% or 0.69 to 18.63. Shares in Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC ) fell to 52-week lows; down 4.32% or 3.61 to 80.05.

The S&P/ASX 200 VIX , which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was down 3.73% to 11.78.

Gold Futures for June delivery was up 0.86% or 26.55 to $3,117.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May fell 0.26% or 0.18 to hit $69.74 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract fell 0.27% or 0.20 to trade at $73.14 a barrel.

AUD/USD was unchanged 0.30% to 0.63, while AUD/JPY fell 0.49% to 94.82.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.00% at 103.99.