Australia Stocks Update: S&P/ASX 200 Falls 80.20 to 4,899.90

By Darren Boey

Sep. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Australia's benchmark stock index, the S&P/ASX 200 Index, fell 1.61 percent at 10:05 a.m.

The index of 200 companies traded on the Australian Stock Exchange fell 80.20 to 4,899.90. Among the stocks in the index, 15 rose, 103 fell and 82 were unchanged.

Declines in the S&P/ASX 200 Index were led by Bhp Billiton Ltd, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. About 78.14 million shares changed hands on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Bhp Billiton Ltd, which fell A$2.01 to A$34.04, was the most active stock by value in Australia.

The next most-active issues were Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, which fell 50 cents to A$6.00, and Bhp Billiton Plc, which fell A$5.21 to A$31.77.