Miners lead the way in modest rise

Miners led the gains on hopes of economic stimulus from Beijing.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 8 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 4333.8.

The materials sector was the big winner of the day, rising 2.3 per cent on rising commodity prices and hopes of more stimulus in China. Gold stocks jumped 3.6 per cent. Weighing on the market were financials, down 0.3 per cent, and consumer staples, down 1.8 per cent.

Trade data released in China yesterday showed a 2.6 per cent drop in imports from a year earlier. It showed iron ore volumes had increased over the year by 5.7 per cent, but value had fallen by 20.9 per cent. Despite this, iron ore prices rose by more than 2 per cent yesterday, after the Chinese government approved infrastructure plans worth $US157 billion.

Fortescue jumped 24?, or 7.25 per cent, to $3.55, extending Friday's strong gains.

Rio Tinto rose $2.32, or 4.4 per cent, to $54.70, and BHP added 48?, or 1.5 per cent, to finish at $32.46.

"Fundamentally, even if you're still shipping the stuff to China, the lower income has got to have effects on the economy," said ANZ research senior economist Justin Fabo.

"One of those we've already seen, some of the miners are starting to cut heads to decrease their costs to price and protect their profits."

BHP and Xstrata yesterday announced that they would cut a combined 900 jobs from Australian coalmining operations.

Goldminer Newcrest jumped 4.5 per cent, or $1.17, to $27.01, following the rising gold price. Spot gold was at a near six-month high around $US1737 before a US Federal Reserve meeting later this week, with investors hoping for monetary stimulus to help the ailing American economy after disappointing jobs data last week.

Among the banks, Westpac fell 10?, or 0.4 per cent, to $23.60, Commonwealth Bank dropped 12?, or 0.2 per cent, to $54.48, NAB lost 5?, or 0.2 per cent, to $25.01 while ANZ bucked the trend and added 3?, or 0.1 per cent, to finish at $24.19.

Retailers were another big drag on the market, as Woolworths, trading ex-dividend, fell $1.09, or 3.6 per cent, to $29.17. Rival Wesfarmers dropped 19?, or 0.5 per cent, to $34.87.

Qantas added 2?, or 1.6 per cent, to $1.28, extending last week's gains after it announced a 10-year alliance with Emirates to help stem losses in its international arm. Chief executive Alan Joyce said Qantas International would break even by 2015.

Among other stocks, property developer Lend Lease lost 56?, or 6.6 per cent, to $7.88. Senior executives at Lend Lease's construction company, Abigroup, have stood aside while investigations are launched into discrepancies in the company's financial reports.

National turnover was 1.92 billion securities worth $4.38 billion, with 538 stocks up, 434 down and 340 unchanged. With AGENCIES