On Wednesday, Australia stocks experienced gains as the Financials, Utilities, and Energy sectors led the way, resulting in a 0.12% increase in the S&P/ASX 200 at the close in Sydney.
Among the top performers on the S&P/ASX 200 were Appen Ltd (ASX:APX), rising 8.40% or 0.05 points to 0.65, Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX:MFG), gaining 7.96% or 0.68 points to reach 9.22, and Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP), increasing by 6.25% or 0.07 points to 1.19 in late trade.
Conversely, the worst performers included Omni Bridgeway Ltd (ASX:OBL), declining by 7.32% or 0.12 points to 1.52, Iress Ltd (ASX:IRE), which fell 6.78% or 0.61 points to 8.39, and Nanosonics Ltd (ASX:NAN), dropping 4.20% or 0.12 points to 2.74.
On the Sydney Stock Exchange, falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones, with 618 declining, 510 advancing, and 366 remaining unchanged.
Shares in Zip Co Ltd (ASX:ZIP) reached 52-week highs, rising 6.25% or 0.07 to 1.19.
The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, measuring the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, decreased by 1.27% to 10.92.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for April delivery were down 0.31% or 6.65 to $2,135.25 per troy ounce. Meanwhile, Crude oil for April delivery rose 0.28% or 0.22 to $78.37 per barrel, and the May Brent oil contract increased by 0.27% or 0.22 to $82.26 per barrel.
The AUD/USD remained unchanged at 0.65, while the AUD/JPY rose by 0.09% to 97.67.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.02% at 103.73.