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

ANZ – AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LTD – down 21 cents, or 0.72 per cent, at $28.80

CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – down 14 cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $69.54

NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD – down 8.0 cents, or 0.26 per cent, at $30.98

WBC – WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – down 13 cents, or 0.42 per cent, at $31.16

Banks have rejected calls for a new tax on the industry, saying the move would hurt retirees and small businesses.

LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS LTD – down 28 cents, or 1.3 per cent, at $21.69

Leighton Holdings’ contract and project development subsidiary has snared a $120 million deal to work on a major rail extension in Sydney.

VAH – VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD – flat at 41 cents

The competition watchdog has delayed its decision on Virgin Australia’s proposed takeover of Tiger Airways Australia.