Australia stocks higher at close of trade; S&P/ASX 200 up 1.39%

Australian equities closed sharply higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising 1.39% to a one-month high as IT, gold, and materials names led the advance. Market breadth was strong, with winners outnumbering losers by 652 to 406, and volatility eased as the S&P/ASX 200 VIX fell 2.90% to 11.35. Commodity moves were mixed but supportive for local sentiment: gold futures rose 0.66% while crude oil and Brent fell more than 5%, and the U.S. dollar index slipped 0.33%. Among major movers, Capricorn Metals, Wisetech Global, and Westgold Resources rallied, while Nickel Mines, Stanmore Coal, and Yancoal lagged. The broader message is risk-on rotation within Australia, helped by strength in metals and technology and lower implied volatility.