SYDNEY (MarketWatch) — Shares got off to a positive start in Australian trading on Friday, the first trading session of the fourth quarter. Miners were among the strongest performers on Friday, with BHP Billiton Ltd. shares up 1.6%, gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd. climbing 1% and Rio Tinto shares rising 0.7%. The gains for the sector tracked some strength for copper and platinum futures in electronic trading, with copper trading up 1 cent at $3.66 per pound. Overall, the S&P/ASX 200 index ticked up 0.5% to 4,607.80 on Friday, building on a 6.5% gain in the third quarter of 2010 and paring year-to-date losses to 5.4%.

Originally from MarketWatch