Sydney - Investors sold Australian stocks Thursday after a reversal on Wall Street and big falls on Asian markets in the previous session.

The ASX 200 lost 181 points, or 4.3 per cent, to 3,974. The benchmark index has lost a third of its value so far this year.

Market leader BHP Billiton lost 8 per cent on the day and fellow resources company Rio Tinto Ltd shed 16 per cent.

Falling commodity prices and fears of a global recession hurt the local currency, with the Australian dollar trading at 66 US cents - only one cent off its five-year low. (dpa)