Australian stocks fall as short-sale ban lifted

(Adds AED Oil, updates indices)

SYDNEY, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell 1.5 percent on Wednesday as the resumption of short selling in non-financial stocks triggered falls in companies such as Woolworths Ltd (ASX: WOW.ax) , which had outperformed in the recent sharp downturn.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index JO was down 51.4 points at 3,471.8 by 0201 GMT, its lowest level since June 2004. The index rose as much as 1.4 percent in early trade.

New Zealand shares also fell, with the benchmark NZX-50 index .NZ50 down 0.6 percent at 2,699.3.

STOCKS ON THE MOVE

* AED Oil Ltd AED extended gains, to be up 5.1 percent at A$1.04, after saying it had a strong balance sheet and was eyeing acquisitions in Australia and the region. [nSYU005557].

0204 GMT

* Oz Minerals Ltd OZL, the world's second-largest zinc miner and a major supplier of copper, tumbled 15.1 percent to A$0.62 after warning of lower profits and possible asset writedowns. [nSYU005556].

0050 GMT

* Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain, fell 0.5 percent to A$26.05 and Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH.ax) lost 3.7 percent to A$53.10. JP Morgan had identified Woolworths and Cochlear as two stocks likely to be targeted by short sellers.

0022 GMT

* AWB Ltd (ASX: AWB.ax) , Australia's top grain marketer and agribusiness group, firmed 6.9 percent to A$2.79 after reporting a more than doubling of annual profit.

0022 GMT

* Building products maker CSR Ltd (ASX: CSR.ax) tumbled 19.2 percent to A$1.39 after completing a A$315 milling capital raising. [nSYU005553]

0023 GMT

* Babcock & Brown Ltd BNB slumped 21 percent to A$0.25 after on news that it had put about half its asset base up for sale and was seeking to renegotiate its bank debts. [nSYD425065].

0023 GMT

* But bigger rival Macquarie Group Ltd MQG jumped 5.4 percent to A$25.30, adding to Tuesday's 16 percent rise. Goldman Sachs JBWere upgraded Macquarie to buy from hold after first-half earnings came in above Goldman's estimates and the company said it was well funded and had a strong capital position.

0023 GMT ($1=A$1.54) (Reporting by Denny Thomas, Editing by Mark Bendeich)

More Quotes and Company Information:AWB LIMITED (ASX: AWB.ax)COCHLEAR LIMITED(ASX: COH.ax)CSR LIMITED(ASX: CSR.ax)WOOLWORTHS LIMITED(ASX: WOW.ax) ... read full article
Wed 19th November 2008 - 01:37pm