Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Thursday:

CTX – CALTEX AUSTRALIA – up 50 cents, or 2.3 per cent, at $22.40

Caltex Australia will sell four petrol stations to win approval for its $95 million takeover of petrol retailer and distributor Scott’s Group.

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS – up 16 cents, or 3.6 per cent, at $4.59

Fortescue Metals has threatened to stand down workers if a threatened tugboat deckhand strike at Port Hedland goes ahead.

JHX – JAMES HARDIE – up 45 cents, or 3.3 per cent, at $14.14

Building products maker James Hardie has more than doubled annual profit as sales grew in its key markets of Australia, Europe and the United States.

WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM – up 70 cents, or 1.7 per cent, at $41.93

Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman will discuss capital management issues with his board following the company’s exit from the Leviathan gas project.