By MarketWatch
TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Australia's stock benchmark was sharply down in early trading Friday, led by weakness in some mining share, after losses on Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 1.2%, as BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP 37.90, -0.40, -1.04%) (BHP 67.35, -0.83, -1.22%) shed 1.5%, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO 71.58, -1.60, -2.19%) (RTP 51.53, -1.18, -2.24%) lost 2% and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG 4.64, 0.00, 0.00%) (FSUMF 4.08, -0.08, -1.92%) skidded 1%. But Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (AU:ANZ 22.78, +0.38, +1.70%) (ANEWF 20.85, 0.00, 0.00%) was up 0.9% after it said its quartlery profit rose 37%. Shares of AWB Ltd. (AU:AWB 1.49, +0.04, +2.41%) (AWBZF 1.34, +0.03, +2.29%) were on a trading halt, as the company entered a deal to sell itself to Canada's Agrium Inc. (CA:AGU 71.01, 0.00, 0.00%) (AGU 68.44, -1.43, -2.05%)
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