closed at $28, page-4

market capitalization over a$100 billion (1st time Australian Shares Cap Best First Quarter in 15 Years; BHP Rises
March 31 (Bloomberg) --

Australian shares rose, capping their best start to the year in a decade and a half. BHP Billiton and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. led gains after metals prices such as copper reached records and oil surged to a two-month high.

``Commodities stocks are clearly leading the rally on the back of global growth and China,'' said Rob Patterson who manages about $2.4 billion in Australian equities at Argo Investments in Adelaide. ``The resource boom is alive and well.''

..... BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest mining company, climbed 40 cents, or 1.5 percent to A$28, contributing to its 23 percent gain this quarter. Today's advance pushed BHP's Australian market capitalization over A$100 billion, the first Australian company to reach that mark.

Copper futures in London rose 1.4 percent to an all-time high of $5,415 a metric ton. Copper in New York added 1.9 percent to $2.4845 a pound, also a record. Copper traded on the London Metals Exchange has gained 23 percent this quarter. .....