Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at the close of trade on Friday:

PSH – PENRICE SODA HOLDINGS LTD – up two cents, or 16 per cent, at 14.5 cents

Chemicals company Penrice is to stop soda ash production in Adelaide with the loss of up to 60 jobs.

QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD – steady at $1.52

Qantas has cut its order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its Jetstar subsidiary as the low-cost carrier prepares for slower growth on its long-haul routes.

RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – up $1.75, or 2.7 per cent, at $66.35

Rio Tinto shares have jumped two per cent following the shock resignation of chief executive Tom Albanese after the miner was forced to make $US14 billion worth of writedowns.

SYD – SYDNEY AIRPORT – down three cents, or one per cent, at $3.05

Sydney Airport served a total of 36.9 million passengers during 2012, a record for the airport.