Australia stocks higher at close of trade; S&P/ASX 200 up 0.01%

Australia's stocks closed higher on Tuesday, buoyed by gains in the Utilities, Financials, and Consumer Staples sectors, which propelled the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.01%. The Utilities sector led the rally, with AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) leading the charge, surging 3.63% or 0.31 points to close at 8.86. Bank Of Queensland Ltd. (ASX:BOQ) and Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) also saw solid gains, adding 2.92% and 2.76% respectively, to finish at 6.69 and 11.55.

However, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) suffered the biggest drop, declining 9.30% or 1.83 points to close at 17.85, while Pls Group Ltd (ASX:PLS) and IperionX Limited (ASX:IPX) also fell by 8.90% and 8.15% respectively. The day saw more stocks falling than rising, with 750 stocks declining, 319 advancing, and 371 remaining unchanged. IperionX Limited (ASX:IPX) traded at a 52-week low, down 8.15% or 0.19 points to 2.14.

The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, a measure of implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, declined 2.64% to 10.70. Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.67% or 28.20 to $4,218.80 per troy ounce, while Crude oil for November delivery fell 1.34% or 1.26 to $92.48 per barrel, and the December Brent oil contract fell 1.23% or 1.31 to $105.34 per barrel.

The Australian Dollar against the US Dollar remained unchanged at 0.70, and AUD/JPY slipped 0.15% to 110.23. The US Dollar Index Futures also declined by 0.15% at 102.22.