Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday October 20
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – steady at $36.40
Iron ore and petroleum increasingly dominate BHP Billiton’s production, making some investors nervous, even as the world’s biggest miner posts record iron ore shipments.
CSL – CSL LTD – up 32 cents at $30.53
Blood products and vaccines maker CSL says currency fluctuations are making it difficult to give precise guidance on expected net profit for the 2012 financial year.
LLC – LEND LEASE GROUP – up 19 cents at $7.94
Property developer Lend Lease has launched a wholesale investment vehicle that will take ownership of four New Zealand shopping centres.
MAP – MAP GROUP – up three cents at $3.33
Sydney Airport Corporation has reported improved earnings in the third quarter of calendar 2011 amid what it says were challenging conditions.
OZL – OZ MINERALS LTD – up 25 cents at $11.61
Copper and gold miner OZ Minerals will continue to hunt for takeovers as it advances the $2 billion Carapateena project.
PSA – PETSEC ENERGY LTD – up 0.5 cents at 14.5 cents
Petsec Energy has reduced its full year oil and gas production and revenue forecasts after a disappointing third quarter, due to technical woes at US projects and lower prices.
QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD – up 2.5 cents at $1.485
The union leader who urged airline passengers to boycott Qantas is now hopeful of reaching a deal in its dispute over pay and job security.
Separately: Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says unions are putting people’s jobs at risk by undergoing continued strike action.
RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – down $1.17 at $65.08
Rio Tinto plans to cultivate crops on its pastoral leases in Western Australia’s Pilbara to use as stock feed for its little-known cattle farming activities.
VBA – VIRGIN BLUE HOLDINGS LTD – up one cent at 35.5 cents
Virgin Australia says it will provide additional capacity to minimise the impact of ongoing Qantas industrial action on the Australian travel and tourism industry.
WEB – WEBJET LTD – up six cents at $2.26
Online travel agency Webjet says its pre-tax first quarter profit is up 23 per cent on the same period last year, and still expects 10 per cent growth in its annual profit.
