Alumina, BHP, Newcrest, Ramsay, Rio: Australia Equity Preview

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may rise or fall in Australia. The preview includes news announced after markets shut yesterday unless otherwise stated. The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract expiring in March rose 0.1 percent to 4,938 as of 7:59 a.m. in Sydney. The S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.8 percent to 4,950.70. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index gained 0.7 percent. Mining stocks: Copper rose in New York and London as imports of the metal into China, the world’s largest user, climbed for a second month and the dollar declined. Copper futures for March delivery rose 1.2 percent to $3.441 a pound in New York. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP AU), the world’s largest mining company, gained 2 percent to A$44.47. Its American depositary receipts rose 0.6 percent in New York. Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU), the world’s third-biggest mining company, gained 1.3 percent to A$80 in Sydney. Gold stocks: Gold rose to a one-month high in New York and London as a weaker dollar increased demand for the precious metal as an alternative investment. Platinum climbed to the highest price in 17 months. Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM AU), Australia’s largest gold producer, rose 1.7 percent to A$36.82. Lihir Gold Ltd. (LGL AU), the second-largest gold mining company on the Australian stock exchange, advanced 3 percent to A$3.46. Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP AU), the fourth-largest producer of the metal, added 2.9 percent to A$7.92. Alumina Ltd. (AWC AU): Alcoa Inc., the largest U.S. aluminum producer, reported fourth-quarter profit that trailed analysts’ estimates as the company faced higher energy and currency costs. Alumina shares jumped 6.7 percent to A$2.06. MAP Group (MAP AU): The operator of airports in Australia and Europe was downgraded to “hold” from “buy” at ABN Amro Holding NV. MAP shares slipped 0.7 percent to A$3.06. Ramsay Health Care Ltd. (RHC AU): Australia’s biggest private hospital operator was raised to “buy” from “neutral” at UBS AG. The shares gained 1.2 percent to A$11.20. To contact the reporter on this story: Shani Raja in Sydney at sraja4@bloomberg.net.