2013.05.1401:16:51UTC+00Australia stocks back and forth action, miners sharply down

Australian stocks played between small wins and losses early Tuesday, with a mixed showing in monetary shares and a sharply lesser performance in the mining sector. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.1%. Market heavyweight Commonwealth Bank of Australia was greater by 0.4% but Westpac Banking Corp. gave up 0.3%, on track for a third consecutive decline. Shares of precious metals miner Newcrest Mining Ltd. were kicked 1.9% down and BHP Billiton Ltd. shares relinquished 0.3%. Energy stocks were volatile, with Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reversing course for a 0.2% increase as Origin Energy Ltd. decline 0.4%.