Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange today
AMC – AMCOR LTD – steady at $7.58
Amcor’s chief executive Ken MacKenzie enjoyed a $1 million pay rise in 2011/12.
BBG – BILLABONG INTERNATIONAL LTD – down 10.5 cents at $1.34
Billabong shares have taken another hit after one of the two private equity companies vying to take it over pulled its bid off the table.
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – down 52 cents at $33.70
BHP has formally withdrawn a proposal for an underground coal mine in central Queensland.
BKW – BRICKWORKS LTD – down five cents at $9.99
Bricks and masonry supplier Brickworks has booked a 70 per cent fall in annual net profit as residential building starts dropped to near 30-year lows.
BLD – BORAL LTD – down eight cents at $3.79
Despite being pushed from his post, former Boral chief executive Mark Selway received a $1.9 million termination payment and stands to gain a further $2.7 million worth of shares.
EGP – ECHO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LTD – down 24 cents at $3.86
Genting Hong Kong says it still wants approval to acquire more shares in Australian casino operator Echo Entertainment Group even though its counterpart in Singapore has decided to sell its stake in Echo.
FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD – down nine cents at $3.60
Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals has continued a positive week by settling a legal dispute with investment group Leucadia.
KMD – KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LTD – up one cent at $1.38
Retailer Kathmandu expects to bounce back from a difficult year with a higher net profit but warns that it sees the current tough trading climate as the new normal.
NCM – NEWCRESTING MINING LTD – down 18 cents at $29.78
Ian Smith picked up a $2.2 million termination benefit when he stepped down as chief executive of gold miner Newcrest.
ORL – OROTONGROUP LTD – up 16 cents at $6.86
Luxury accessories retailer OrotonGroup is preparing to embark on a year of transition after posting a flat profit for 2011/12 and breaking ties with American fashion house Ralph Lauren.
SDG – SUNLAND GROUP LTD – down 3.5 cents at 88.5 cents
Property developer and manager Sunland Group has sold its Palazzo Versace hotel on Queensland’s Gold Coast to private investors for $68.5 million.
SOL – WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON AND CO LTD – down 12 cents at $12.73
Washington H Soul Pattinson’s full year profit has fallen by 60 per cent to $143 million, due to a large gain on the sale of Arrow Energy shares by its coal miner New Hope Corporation in the previous year.
SYD – SYDNEY AIRPORT – up one cent at $3.17
A record number of passengers passed through Sydney Airport in August due to strong growth in international arrivals and a recovery in the domestic market.
TEN – TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LTD – up 0.5 cents at 35.5 cents
The competition watchdog has given the go-ahead for broadcaster Ten Network Holdings to sell its EyeCorp outdoor advertising business.
VAH – VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD – up 0.5 cents at 43 cents
Virgin Australia pilots have rejected a new enterprise agreement and urged the airline’s management to table a better offer.
