Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday:

BHP – BHP BILLITON

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP

RIO – RIO TINTO

The price of iron has edged lower, down 18 US cents to $US54.57.

BOQ – BANK OF QUEENSLAND

Bank of Queensland Bank raised its home loan interest rates on Thursday, while also unveiling a lift in profit, as it blamed increasing costs for the rate hike.

ORG – ORIGIN ENERGY

STO – SANTOS

WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM

Oil prices slipped after data indicated a key pipeline shutdown had not reduced crude flows to US storage base by as much as expected.

US crude settled 1.3 per cent down to $US37.26 a barrel while Brent settled 1 per cent lower to $US39.43 a barrel.