Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, August 23
AGK – AGL ENERGY LTD – down six cents at $15.69
Energy supplier AGL Energy says the implementation of the federal government’s carbon tax has gone smoothly.
AIO – ASCIANO LTD – up one cent at $4.51
Ports and rail operator Asciano has predicted earnings growth for all of its business divisions this year, despite the spectre of a waterfront war and sluggish global economy.
APA – APA GROUP – down four cents at $4.78
Fresh from winning the $1.4 billion takeover battle for HDF, natural gas pipelines operator APA is confident of lifting earnings in the 2013 financial year. (APA GROUP on file,
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – down 11 cents at $33.16
BHP Billiton has shelved $US50 billion ($A47.89 billion) of major projects in a major cost-slashing program, signalling an end to the vast growth of the mining boom.
BLD – BORAL LTD – down three cents at $3.47
Building products group Boral has increased its full year profit by 5.3 per cent.
CCL – COCA-COLA AMATIL LTD – up six cents at $13.92
Beverages supplier Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) says it could cater to up to 15 per cent of the premium beer market in Australia through a brewing joint venture with privately owned Casella Wines.
CSL – CSL LTD – up 67 cents at $42.00
International blood plasma and vaccine company CSL will focus future investment on a range of specialty products to drive its profits higher and consider another $900 million share buyback.
DTE – DART ENERGY LTD – down 1.5 cents at 16 cents
NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher says he expects police to intervene if protesters continue blockading a Hunter Valley coal seam gas (CSG) drilling site.
FBU – FLETCHER BUILDING GROUP – down 29 cents at $4.86
Fletcher Building has reported a 12 per cent drop in annual earnings, on sales growth fuelled by the first full-year contribution from Australia’s Crane Group.
NBL – NONI B LTD – up 7.5 cents at 82.5 cents
Women’s fashion retailer Noni B has delivered a ten-fold increase to full year profits, but is not confident that retail trading conditions will improve this year.
PBG – PACIFIC BRANDS LTD – down one cent at 58 cents
All Pacific Brands needs is love to help turn around its flagging fortunes, its new chief executive says.
PPX – PAPERLINX LTD – down 0.5 cents at 6.6 cents
Troubled paper merchant PaperlinX has more than doubled its annual losses to $266.7 million after writing off the value of its European operations.
SEK – SEEK LTD – up 43 cents at $7.13
Online job advertiser Seek has lifted full year profit by 35 per cent and forecast further growth in the year ahead.
SUN – SUNCORP GROUP LTD – up six cents at $8.88
Suncorp Group will pay a bonus dividend to its shareholders after posting a 60 per cent rise in full year profit.
SWM – SEVEN WEST MEDIA LTD – up two cents at $1.485
Seven West Media will pursue cost cuts to maintain profitability in the face of declining advertising markets affecting its television, newspaper and magazine operations.
TLS – TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD – down three cents at $3.72
Townsville’s mayor has launched a furious attack on Telstra over its plans to shut down a call centre in the city with the loss of 126 jobs.
TME – TRADE ME GROUP LTD – down eight cents at $3.01
FXJ – FAIRFAX MEDIA LTD – down one cent at 56.5 cents
Trade Me, the online auction site spun off by Fairfax Media in December, beat its prospectus forecast for earnings on classified sales growth and the rollout of new smart phone applications.
TRS – THE REJECT SHOP LTD – up 79 cents at $10.59
Discount retailer The Reject Shop says the re-opening of its flood-hit Ipswich distribution centre is expected to help it deliver further profit growth. (WRAP on file)
WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD – down $1.10 at $34.90
Woodside Petroleum has left the door wide open to process gas from its Browse project offshore and abandon its controversial plant near Broome.