By Michael Kitchen
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks headed into the holiday on the upswing Thursday, with gold miners leading the advance, tracking gold futures higher. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to 4,765.0 in the opening minutes, with Lihir Gold Ltd. (AU:LGL 3.26, +0.09, +2.84%) (LIHRF 2.70, -0.29, -9.70%) up 1.3%, though Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM 35.14, +0.18, +0.51%) (NCMGF 29.80, -1.20, -3.87%) slipped 0.4% after strong gains in the previous session. Overnight gains in U.S. material stocks also helped miner BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP 42.47, +0.55, +1.31%) (BHP 75.35, +0.11, +0.15%) to gain 1.6%. Volume was reportedly light ahead of the holiday break. Australia's market was set to close early at 2:10 p.m. Sydney time and to remain closed Friday for the Christmas holiday.
