Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, August 2

BWD – BLACKWOOD CORPORATION LTD – steady at 18 cents

Coal explorer Blackwood Corp is still waiting for $28.4 million it is owed after mining entrepreneur Nathan Tinkler delayed paying for his one-third stake in the group.

BPT – BEACH ENERGY LTD – down 1.5 cents at $1.085

Oil and gas producer Beach Energy’s chairman Bob Kennedy is stepping down after almost 17 years in the position.

CTY – COUNTRY ROAD LTD – steady at $3.28

WOW – WOOLWORTHS LTD – up 15 cents at $28.72

Country Road has agreed to buy rival fashion retailer Witchery and accessories brand Mimco, in a move which it believes will lead to lower prices for shoppers.

CWN – CROWN LTD – up two cents at $8.47

Casino operator Crown plans to spend $568 million building a new six-star hotel at its Burswood complex in Perth.

IAU – INTREPID MINES LTD – up seven cents at 29 cents

Intrepid Mines shares have surged 29 per cent after the company agreed to allocate around five per cent of its shares to Indonesian media mogul Surya Paloh.

NUF – NUFARM LTD – down nine cents at $5.38

Agricultural chemicals supplier Nufarm Ltd has conditionally agreed to pay $43.5 million to settle legal proceedings brought against the company by some of its shareholders.

PPX – PAPERLINX LTD – up 1.7 cents at 6.7 cents

The man who tried to unseat PaperlinX chairman Harry Boon has been appointed to the board of the struggling paper merchant.

RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – up 33 cents at $53.53

Global miner Rio Tinto will soon start cutting office jobs in Melbourne and Sydney to deal with falling commodity prices and soaring costs.