2013.08.2906:55:18UTC+00Australian stocks pullback as Syria worries continue

Australian equities decline on early Thursday trading action, poised for a second session of declines as concerns about a U.S.-led military strike ver sus Syria lingered. The S&P/ASX 200 gave up 0.3% to 5,065.40. Financials were mostly down and mining stocks were mixed, with Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. the standout backslider as its shares sag 19%. The gold producer didn't announce a final dividend and swung to a consolidated yearly net loss of 323.7 million Australian dollars ($289.5 million). Shares of Westfield Group relinquished 0.8% after the firm announced their first-half net earnings retreated 36% as sales of less-profitable malls reduced overall revenue. But stock in Qantas Airways Ltd. recorded an 8.5% gain as the company swung to an annual profit of A$5 million.