Australia, N.Z. Equities: BHP, Rio, Qantas, Coalspur, AWE

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AS51) index and New Zealand’s benchmark NZX 50 (NZSE50FG) made their biggest first-quarter advances since 2006. The Australian gauge rose 0.1 percent to 4,335.20 at the close in Sydney. That capped a 6.9 percent increase over the first quarter, its best result for the period since a 7.7 percent rise in 2006.

In Wellington the NZX gained 0.4 percent to 3,509.55, a 7.2 percent rise that was the best since a 9.9 percent increase in the first quarter of 2006.

The consumer staples sub-index was the best performer on the Australian benchmark, climbing 1.1 percent. Woolworths Ltd. (WOW) , Australia’s largest retailer, drove the increase in the gauge, rising 1.3 percent to A$25.98.

Mining shares: The materials sub-index was the second-best performing sector, rising 0.7 percent.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) , the world’s largest miner, climbed 1.1 percent, the most since March 19, to A$34.61. Rio Tinto Ltd. (RIO) rose 1.6 percent to A$65.40.

Coalspur Mines Ltd. (CPL) had the biggest gain in Sydney, rising 6.5 percent to A$1.65. The company yesterday announced that it had increased capacity allocation at a coal port on Canada’s west coast.

Mirabela Nickel Ltd. (MBN) , which is developing a mining project in Brazil, continued its seven-day losing streak and was the worst performer in Sydney, down 8.1 percent at 56 Australian cents and capping a 72 percent fall over the past 12 months.

Industrial stocks were the third-best performers, with the sub-index up 0.5 percent.

Leighton Holdings (LEI) Ltd, Australia’s biggest builder, fell for a second day running after reporting that full-year earnings would be below previous forecasts because of cost overruns on two projects. The stock sank 3.8 percent to A$21.32 at the close.

Macmahon Holdings (MAH) Ltd, which competes with Leighton in the mining construction sector, was the second-best performer, rising 6.2 percent to 86 Australian cents after winning a contract to build part of a uranium mine in northern Australia.

Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN) , the country’s leading carrier, fell 1.7 percent to A$1.785 after announcing capacity growth will slow and raising fuel surcharges.

Aurora Oil & Gas Ltd. (AUT) fell 2.6 percent to A$3.78 after Credit Suisse Group AG cut its rating on the stock to “neutral.”

AWE Ltd. (AWE) rose 4.5 percent to A$1.995 after announcing it had received A$80 million in cash for selling its stake in a gas project.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Fickling in Sydney at dfickling@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Murray at brmurray@bloomberg.net; Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net