The S& P/ASX 200 in Australia is up 0.50 percent at the closing of session

Australia’s stocks rose after the close on Friday, led by advances in the Metals & Mining, Materials, and Resources sectors. The S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.50 percent at the close in Sydney.

Nickel Mines Ltd (ASX: NIC) was the highest performance on the S&P/ASX 200 during the day, rising 8.54 percent or 0.085 points to close at 1.080. Meanwhile, Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC) gained 6.34 percent or 0.130 points to close at 2.180, while South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) gained 5.88 percent or 0.190 points to close at 3.420. Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) was the poorest performer of the day, falling 5.67 percent or 0.115 points to settle at 1.915. Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX: OBL) fell 5.28 percent or 0.21 point to end at 3.77, while Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU) fell 2.95 percent or 0.20 point to finish at 6.59.

On the Sydney Stock Exchange, rising equities outnumbered decreasing ones 852 to 508, with 426 remaining unchanged. Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) shares declined 5.67 percent or 0.115 to 1.915, reaching a 52-week low. Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC) benefited 6.34 percent, or 0.130 to 2.180, to new 52-week highs. South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares increased 5.88 percent or 0.190 to 3.420, reaching a 52-week high.

The S& P/ASX 200 VIX, which gauges the implied volatility of S& P/ASX 200 options, fell 6.50 percent to 11. 772.Gold futures for December delivery were up 0.16 percent, or 2.80 cents, to $1802.80 per troy ounce. In other commodities trading, October crude oil increased 1.17 percent or 0.80 to $68.94 a barrel, while November Brent oil rose 1.27 percent or 0.91 to $72.36 a barrel. The Australian dollar increased 0.35 percent to 0.7392, while the Japanese yen rose 0.59 percent to 81.29. The US Dollar Index Futures dropped 0.05 percent to 92.433.