BHP Billiton, Coles Group, Rinker: Australian Equity Preview

The following is a list of companies whose shares may rise or fall in Australia. This preview includes news announced after markets closed on Friday. Prices are from Friday's close unless otherwise stated. Stock symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in June added 0.9 percent to 6359 at 6:59 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of New York Australia ADR Index gained 1.2 percent in New York.

The S&P/ASX 200 on Friday lost 58.10, or 0.9 percent, to 6297.40, posting a 0.1 percent decline last week.

Mining stocks: A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, including copper and zinc, rose 0.7 percent.

American depositary receipts of BHP Billiton (BHP AU), the world's biggest mining company, rose 1.7 percent to the equivalent of A$31.44 a share in New York, 1.4 percent higher than the stock's close of A$31 in Sydney. ADRs of Rio Tinto Group's (RIO LN) London-based shares climbed 3.5 percent.

U.S.-linked shares: U.S. stocks gained in New York after government reports showed producer prices excluding food and fuel costs were unchanged for a second month in April and retail sales unexpectedly fell, fueling optimism the Federal Reserve will refrain from lifting interest rates.

Westfield Group (WDC AU), the world's biggest owner of shopping malls, fell 1.1 percent to A$21.86. Rinker Group Ltd. (RIN AU), the biggest supplier of cement blocks in the U.S., was unchanged at A$19.05.

Coles Group Ltd. (CGJ AU): A group led by Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co. has been granted exclusive access for two weeks to study confidential company information of Coles before a potential bid, the Australian Financial Review reported. KKR, a U.S. buyout firm, was granted access ahead of rival bidder Wesfarmers Ltd., which on April 3 led a A$19.7 billion ($16.4 billion) offer for the Australian retailer, the newspaper reported, without saying where it obtained the information. Coles slid 0.2 percent to A$17.77.

Mineral Commodities Ltd. (MRC AU): The mining company faces objections from local communities for plans to mine titanium at the Xolobeni mineral sands project on South Africa's west coast, the Sunday Independent reported, citing the groups. The shares jumped 6.5 percent to 16.5 cents.