Australia Stocks: BHP, Gindalbie, Gunns, Oil Search, Woodside

By Ian C. Sayson

Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 155.50 points, or 4 percent, to 4,001.10 at the close in Sydney. The measure is set for a 13 percent decline this month. The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in December rose 4.4 percent to 4,018, while the All Ordinaries Index gained 151.50, or 4 percent, to 3,957.30.

The following is a list of companies whose shares were among the most active in Australian trading. Stocks symbols are in parentheses after company names.

Mining stocks: BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world's largest mining company, climbed for the fourth day, advancing A$2.30, or 8.8 percent, to A$28.60, after a measure of metal prices advanced the most in more than eight years. Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU), the world's third biggest, climbed A$6.54, or 9.2 percent, to A$77.32. Fortescue Metals Group (FMG AU), Australia's third-biggest iron ore producer, gained 9 cents, or 3 percent, to A$3.14.

A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange rose for a third day, adding 8.6 percent. It was the measure's biggest gain, according to data that goes back up to April 10, 2000. Copper climbed 13 percent and nickel rose 14 percent.

Oil companies: Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), Australia's second-biggest oil producer, rose A$4.91, or 13 percent, to A$43.16 after crude oil prices advanced the most in a month. Santos Ltd. (STO AU), the third-biggest oil producer, jumped A$1.25 cents, or 9.8 percent, to A$13.95.

Crude oil climbed more than $4 a barrel yesterday to $67.50, its sharpest gain since Sept. 22, amid signs that central bank interest-rate cuts may help revive fuel demand. Oil was 4.3 percent higher at $70.39 a barrel as of 1:37 p.m. in Singapore.

AGL Energy Ltd. (AGK AU), Australia's biggest power and gas retailer, added 15 cents, or 1.1 percent, to A$13.90. The company said today it agreed to sell its oil and gas interests in Papua New Guinea, including a 3.6 percent stake in a planned gas export project, for $800 million. Oil Search Ltd. (OSH AU), Papua New Guinea's biggest oil producer and one of the companies that hold pre-emptive rights over AGL's stake, climbed 59 cents, or 16 percent, to A$4.30.

Beach Petroleum Ltd. (BPT AU), Australia's fourth-largest oil and gas company by reserves, climbed 13 cents, or 17 percent, to 90 Australian cents, its biggest gain since Oct. 7, 2004. First-quarter sales jumped 53 percent to A$182.8 million ($125 million), the company said.

Centennial Coal Co. (CEY AU), Australia's fourth-largest coal producer, gained 31 cents, or 10 percent, to A$3.34. The company said its expects profitability to increase in 2009, driven by overseas demand and ``improved'' exchange rates.

Gindalbie Metals Ltd. (GBG AU), a partner of Anshan Iron & Steel Group in an Australian iron ore mine, jumped 4.5 cents, or 13 percent, to 39 Australian cents, its biggest gain since Oct. 14. The worst credit freeze since the 1930s will not stop the development of the A$1.8 billion ($1.2 billion) mine project, Gindalbie said.

GPT Group (GPT AU), an Australian real estate investment trust, sank 6 cents, or 7.1 percent, to 79 Australian cents. The company said it has started the search for a new chairman and two other directors as part of its reorganization.

Gunns Ltd. (GNS AU), which plans a A$2 billion wood pulp mill in Australia's Tasmania state, advanced 7.5 cents, or 6.9 percent, to A$1.16. The company said overseas demand for woodchips remains positive and that talks are continuing on the pulp mill's financing.

Leighton Holdings Ltd. (LEI AU), Australia's largest engineering and construction company, slid A$1.07, or 4 percent, to A$25.73. Macquarie Group Ltd. downgraded the stock to ``neutral'' from ``outperform.''

Mincor Resources NL (MCR AU), Australia's fourth-largest nickel producer, gained 3.5 cents, or 5.4 percent, to 68.5 Australian cents, after announcing moves to protect its margins. The company said today it will cut spending on mine development and curb output from high-cost operations to soften margin erosion brought about by a slump in the price of the metal.

Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM AU), Australia's largest gold mining company, added A$1.82, or 9.7 percent, to A$20.52. Chairman Donald Mercer said its cash flow will be able to fund new mine developments including its Cadia East project.

Origin Energy Ltd. (ORG AU), Australia's biggest producer of natural gas from coal seams, added 28 cents, or 1.8 percent, to A$15.70, its biggest gain in eight days. ConocoPhillips, the third-largest U.S. oil company, has completed the purchase of half of the company's coal-seam gas unit and paid $5 billion for the acquisition, Origin said. Origin also that it pay an additional 25 Australian cents a share in dividends and that it will buy back shares from the market.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ian C. Sayson in Manila at isayson@bloomberg.net.