Australia shares fall 1.3 pct BHP- Rio lead decline

(Updates to provisional close)

SYDNEY, July 3 (Reuters) - Australian stocks fell to their lowest close in over a week on Friday, with losses headed by global miners BHP Billiton Ltd BHP and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO.ax) after gloomy jobs data in the U.S. cast doubt on the prospects for a global recovery.

Rio shares dropped 4.2 percent after it resumed trade following a deeply discounted rights issue to raise $15.2 billion. [ID:nSYD533101]

The S&P/ASX 200 index JO fell 49.1 points to 3,828.2 based on the latest available data, after nudging up just 0.1 percent the previous day.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.2 percent to 2,761.5.

More Quotes and Company Information:RIO TINTO LIMITED (ASX: RIO.ax) ... read original article
Fri 3rd July 2009 - 04:16pm