BHP, James Hardie, OneSteel, Santos, Woodside: Australian Equity Preview

The following is a list of companies whose shares may rise or fall in Australia. This preview includes news announced after markets closed yesterday. All prices are from yesterday’s close unless otherwise stated.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in September rose 0.9 percent to 4,428 as of 6:56 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index declined 0.3 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 1.1 percent to 4,404.20.

Mining shares: Copper futures for December delivery fell 1.7 percent to close at $3.37 a pound at 1:23 p.m. in New York, the biggest drop for the contract since Aug. 11.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world’s largest mining company, decreased 2.2 percent to A$37.05 in Sydney. Its American depositary receipts were unchanged in New York trading.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU), the world’s third-largest miner, fell 1.3 percent to A$70.09 in Sydney.

BHP agreed with Japanese steelmakers to cut coking coal prices by 7 percent in the three months ending Dec. 31, Nikkei English News said, without citing anyone.

Oil companies: Crude oil for October delivery fell 3.7 percent to settle at $71.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the biggest drop since June 4.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), Australia’s second- largest oil and gas producer, declined 1.4 percent to A$41.87. Rival Santos Ltd. (STO AU) slipped 1.6 percent to A$14.20.

James Hardie Industries SE (JHX AU): The biggest seller of home siding in the U.S. may need to draw on a loan from the Australian and New South Wales state governments as its asbestos compensation fund may run out of money by early 2012, the Australian Financial Review reported, citing modeling by the newspaper. James Hardie shares dipped 1.3 percent to A$5.33.

OneSteel Ltd. (OST AU): Australia’s second-largest producer of steel said it has signed a A$590 million ($526 million) syndicated loan facility that will refinance two facilities due to mature in September 2010 and September 2011. OneSteel fell 1 percent to A$2.88.

Primary Health Care Ltd. (PRY AU): Australia’s second- biggest provider of medical tests said its bond issue was increased from the original target size of A$125 million. Primary shares were unchanged at A$3.23.

To contact the reporter for this story: Lisa Pham in Sydney at lpham14@bloomberg.net.

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