Australia Stocks: Babcock, BHP Billiton, James Hardie, Woodside

By Ian C. Sayson and Malcolm Scott

Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The S&P/ASX 200 Index decreased 65.50 points, or 1.6 percent, to 4,156 as of 10:33 a.m. in Sydney, after a four-day, 11 percent rally. The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract expiring in December fell 0.6 percent to 4,151, while the All Ordinaries Index dropped 63.60, or 1.5 percent, to 4,109.40.

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

Oil companies: BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), Australia's biggest oil and gas producer, decreased 91 cents, or 3 percent, to A$28.99 after oil prices slumped on concern that demand for the fuel will decline. Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), Australia's second-biggest oil producer, dropped 82 cents, or 1.9 percent, to A$41.59.

Crude oil fell more than $3 a barrel yesterday after a report showed that manufacturing in the U.S. contracted in October at the fastest pace in 26 years, a signal that fuel consumption will decline.

U.S.-Related Stocks: Westfield Group (WDC AU), the world's biggest shopping mall owner by market value, lost 46 cents, or 2.8 percent, to A$15.71 on speculation that earnings at its U.S. malls will slump after manufacturing contracted. James Hardie Industries NV (JHX AU), the biggest seller of home siding in the U.S., dropped 22 cents, or 4.6 percent, to A$4.60.

Manufacturing in the U.S. contracted in October at the fastest pace in 26 years, the Institute for Supply Management said. James Hardie separately said that it's suspending production at its South Carolina and California plants because of the housing slump.

Asciano Ltd. (AIO AU), an Australian port and railroad, fell 5 cents, or 2.3 percent, to A$2.15 after the Australian Financial Review reported the company will likely reject an offer by a group led by TPG Capital to buy a stake in Asciano through the purchase of A$1.25 billion ($850 million) in convertible notes. Asciano lost half of its market value since it rejected a A$2.9 billion buyout three months ago.

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group (BBI AU), owner of ports and energy transmission lines in Australia, Europe and the U.S., climbed 5 cents, or 23 percent, to 26.5 Australian cents. The company agreed to sell 50 percent of Powerco Ltd.'s New Zealand operations as it seeks to reduce debt.

Sunland Group Ltd. (SDG AU), an Australian property company, added 4 cents, or 3.9 percent, to A$1.075 after announcing a new joint venture partner to help it build its A$2.2 billion Atrium tower development in Dubai.

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