Monday, June 7, 2010

Australian shares fall 3%, led by miners, banks

SYDNEY: Australian shares fell 3.1% on Monday, June 7 as concern over US job figures added to investor alarm over sovereign debt levels in Hungary and a slump in metal prices.

Global miner BHP Billiton led decliners, losing 3.9% at 0010 GMT, while Mincor Resources Ltd fell 5.9% after saying last week that Australia's planned mining profits tax could threaten production.

Uncertainty over the 40% mining tax, which the government plans to introduce in 2012, also affected other miners on Monday including Rio Tinto Ltd, down 3%, and Macarthur Coal, down 4.4%.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was down 136.2 points to 4,313.7 at 0035 GMT. The New Zealand market is shut for a local holiday.

Bank stocks also fell amid international concern that Hungary might face a Greek-style debt crisis, although the government there is backing away from comments pointing to fiscal problems.

Commonwealth Bank fell 3.3%, while National Australia Bank fell 3.8% and shares in Macquarie Bank fell 4.5%. ' Reuters


No comments:

Post a Comment