BHP, Origin, Rio, Santos, Virgin Blue, Woodside: Australian Stock 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 0.7 percent to 4,568 as of 6:59 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index advanced 0.5 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 Index declined 0.8 percent to 4,537.20.

Mining shares: Copper futures for delivery in December added 0.9 percent to close at $3.5005 a pound at 1:27 p.m. in New York, the biggest gain for a most-active contract since Sept. 1.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world’s largest mining company, slipped 1.4 percent to A$37.91 in Sydney. Its American depositary receipts advanced 0.1 percent in New York trading. BHP and ArcelorMittal have scrapped talks on a proposed iron-ore joint venture in Liberia and Guinea.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU), the world’s third-biggest miner, dropped 1.2 percent to A$73.44 in Sydney.

Oil companies: Crude oil for October delivery rose 0.8 percent to settle at $74.67 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL AU), Australia’s second- largest oil and gas producer, fell 1.4 percent to A$42.70.

Rival Santos Ltd. (STO AU) dipped 0.6 percent to A$13.75. Santos may proceed with an equity raising worth about A$2 billion ($1.8 billion) as soon as its Gladstone liquefied gas project gains federal government environmental approvals, the Australian Financial Review reported in its Street Talk column, without saying where it got the information.

Origin Energy Ltd. (ORG AU): The Australian electricity and gas retailer had its stock rating raised to “buy” from “neutral” by analysts at UBS AG. Shares dropped 1.5 percent to A$15.32.

Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. (VBA AU): Delta Air Lines Inc. and Virgin Blue, Australia’s second-largest airline, lost a bid to collaborate on U.S.-Australia flights as federal regulators rejected their request for an exemption from antitrust rules. Virgin Blue advanced 3.5 percent to 44.5 Australian cents.

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

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