Australia Stocks Preview: Alumina, BHP, Herald, Just, Origin

By Shani Raja

July 11 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may rise or fall in Australia. This preview includes news announced after markets closed yesterday. Prices are from yesterday's close unless otherwise stated.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in September rose 0.8 percent to 4,985 at 6:59 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index gained 2.4 percent in New York.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 74.50 points, or 1.5 percent, to 4,937.40.

Mining shares: A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange advanced 1.7 percent. Zinc rose 6.7 percent, copper 0.2 percent and nickel 2.1 percent.

American depositary receipts of BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world's largest mining company, advanced 2.5 percent to the equivalent of A$39.83 a share in New York, A$1.03 higher than the A$38.80 close in Sydney.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU) declined A$1.55, or 1.3 percent, to A$121.60.

Oil companies: Crude oil rose more than $5 a barrel in the last hour of New York floor trading as prices breached a level that triggered computer-generated buying programs. Prices rose earlier because Iran test-fired more missiles in the Persian Gulf and a Nigerian militant group said it will end a cease-fire. Crude oil for August delivery rose $5.60, or 4.1 percent, to settle at $141.65 a barrel at 2:53 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the biggest one-day increase since June 6.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), Australia's second-largest oil and gas producer, lost A$1.32, or 2.2 percent, to A$57.90.

Alumina Ltd. (AWC AU), partner in the world's biggest producer of the material used to make aluminum, said the after- tax effect from a gas supply outage in Western Australia was less than previously estimated in June. Alumina slipped 13 cents, or 3 percent, to A$4.23.

Anvil Mining Ltd. (AVM AU), an Australian producer of copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said it raised C$296.7 million ($293.7 million) in a private placement of shares to fund development of its African projects. Anvil jumped 50 cents, or 5.9 percent, to A$9.

Herald Resources Ltd. (HER AU), an Australian zinc and lead explorer, increased the resource estimate at its Dairi project in Indonesia by six percent. The Lae Jehe deposit at the project is estimated to contain a resource of 11.3 million metric tons at 10.5 percent zinc and 5.7 percent lead, Perth-based Herald said yesterday in a statement to the Australian stock exchange. Herald rose 4 cents, or 1.4 percent, to A$2.93.

Origin Energy Ltd. (ORG AU): BG Group Plc, the U.K.'s third- largest oil and gas company, said some resources held by Origin Energy Ltd., Australia's biggest producer of gas from coal seams, aren't viable for development and can't be booked as reserves. Origin, the target of a takeover bid by BG, slipped 30 cents, or 1.8 percent, to A$16.

Just Group Ltd. (JST AU): Premier Investments Ltd., an Australian investor controlled by billionaire Solomon Lew, extended its bid for Just Group Ltd. by four weeks. The offer, which had been scheduled to close on July 18, was extended until Aug. 15, Melbourne-based Premier said in a statement to the Australian stock exchange. Just fell 7 cents, or 2.4 percent, to A$2.82.

To contact the reporter on this story: Shani Raja in Sydney at sraja4@bloomberg.net.