MW: Australian shares move higher in early trading
By Sarah Turner
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks rose in early trading on Friday, with gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM 41.51, +1.33, +3.31%) up 1.7% following another record high for gold futures. Miners were strong across the board and financials were also gaining ground with the S&P/ASX 200 index up 0.6% at 4,633.50. Antother notable mover, Leighton Holdings Ltd. (AU:LEI 34.04, +0.47, +1.40%) climbed 2.5% after Spanish construction firm ACS (ES:ACS 35.83, 0.00, 0.00%) offered to buy the rest of Leighton shareholder Hochtief (DE:HOT 59.20, 0.00, 0.00%) .
