Oct. 18 (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. Stock symbols are in parentheses after the company names.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in December gained 0.1 percent to 6,722 at 6:59 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index snapped two days of losses, rising 0.7 percent in New York.

The S&P/ASX 200 dropped a fourth day, losing 11.90, or 0.2 percent, to 6,680.10 yesterday.

Mining shares: A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, including copper and nickel, declined a second day, falling 0.8 percent. Copper lost 1.1 percent, nickel was unchanged, and zinc fell 2.3 percent.

American depositary receipts of BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world's largest mining company, added 1.1 percent to the equivalent of A$46.52 a share in New York, 22 cents more than the stock's close yesterday of A$46.30 in Sydney.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU), the third-largest miner in the world, said it is facing rising costs after increasing third- quarter iron-ore production by 2 percent amid surging demand from China. Rio lost A$3.50, or 3.1 percent, to A$110 yesterday.

Oil producers: Crude oil traded near $87 a barrel after falling for the first time in seven days yesterday on a report showing U.S. stockpiles rose twice as much as expected.

Inventories climbed 1.78 million barrels to 321.9 million barrels last week, 7.8 percent more than the five-year average for the period, the Energy Department said yesterday. Prices fell late in the day having reached a record $89 after Turkish lawmakers voted to allow the use of military force against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

Crude oil for November delivery fell 21 cents to settle at $87.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Caltex Australia Ltd. (CTX AU), Australia's largest oil refiner, rose 8 cents, or 0.4 percent, to A$23.20. Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), the nation's second-biggest oil producer, lost A$1.31, or 2.4 percent, to A$54.18. Santos Ltd. (STO AU), the third-biggest producer, gained 19 cents, or 1.3 percent, to A$15.29.

U.S.-linked stocks: Most U.S. stocks rose, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 Index higher for the first time in three days, after Intel Corp., Yahoo! Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. posted earnings that topped analysts' estimates.

Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, advanced to an almost two-year high and Yahoo, owner of the most-visited U.S. Web site, posted its steepest rally since May. JPMorgan, the third-largest U.S. bank, climbed the most in a month after reducing costs and boosting asset management fees. Coca-Cola Co. and CSX Corp. also rose on earnings growth.

The S&P 500 added 0.2 percent.

James Hardie Industries NV (JHX AU), the biggest seller of home siding in the U.S., lost 8 cents, or 1.1 percent, to A$7.09. Westfield Group (WDC AU), which owns 59 shopping malls in the U.S., added 23 cents, or 1.1 percent, to A$21.77. CSL Ltd. (CSLDA AU), an Australian drugmaker that made 46 percent of its sales in North America last year, rose A$1.25, or 3.8 percent, to A$34.37.

AWB Ltd. (AWB AU): Iraq wants to buy wheat from Australia's biggest exporter of the grain, Trade Minister Warren Truss said, 19 months after AWB imports to the country were halted after it was discovered to have paid kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime. Iraq's Trade Minister Abd al-Falah al-Sudani is in Australia for meetings with the government. AWB fell 6 cents, or 2.6 percent, to A$2.29.

Babcock & Brown Ltd. (BNB AU): Australia's second-largest investment bank is planning to set up a joint venture with TAV Havalimanlari Holding AS, a Turkish airport operator, to run Prague Pilsen Airport in the Czech Republic. Oxford Properties Group also bought 49 percent of Babcock's portfolio of eight U.S. shopping malls yesterday. Babcock & Brown rose 25 cents, or 0.9 percent, to A$27.65.

Salmat Ltd. (SLM AU): Shareholders in HPAL Ltd. voted in favor of the company merging with Salmat at a meeting yesterday. The A$318 million ($283 million) cash and stock takeover is now subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia. Salmat dropped 4 cents, or 0.9 percent, to A$4.56. HPAL Ltd. (HPX AU), increased 1 cent, or 0.4 percent, to A$2.53.

Midwest Corp. (MIS AU): The Western Australia state government yesterday granted the iron ore producer an extension until Oct. 31 on its permit to haul ore by road to Geraldton port. The government scrapped legislation granting the permit on Sept. 26. Midwest fell 18 cents, or 3.6 percent, to A$4.84.

Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. (PBL AU): Australia's largest casino owner will proceed with plans to separate its media and gaming assets into separate companies after gaining court approval yesterday. Shareholders will vote on the plan Nov. 23. Publishing & Broadcasting lost 11 cents, or 0.5 percent, to A$20.14.

Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN AU): Australia's largest air carrier is planning to sell its holiday business to Jetset Travelworld Ltd., an Australian travel agency, the Australian Financial Review said. Qantas was unchanged yesterday at A$5.89.

To contact the reporter for this story: Emma O'Brien in Wellington on eobrien6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 17, 2007 18:37 EDT