Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday November 8
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – up 17 cents at $34.98
BHP Billiton has confirmed that the global mining giant is preparing for the departure of chief executive Marius Kloppers with a succession plan.
BRU – BURU ENERGY LTD – up 12 cents at $2.81
Australian oil and gas producer Buru Energy and Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan have struck a deal to develop massive unconventional gas reserves in the environmentally sensitive Kimberley region of Western Australia.
CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – up 32 cents at $57.80
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) says it is seeing signs of economic hardship hitting businesses, as it posted a first-quarter profit of $1.8 billion.
DMP – DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LTD – down 11 cents at $9.20
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises says its on track to meet its full year guidance.
DOW – DOWNER EDI LTD – up 20 cents at $3.62
Downer EDI shares have soared more than seven per cent after the engineering firm said it was on track to achieve its full-year profit expectations.
HIL – HILLS HOLDINGS LTD – up one cent at 84 cents
Troubled manufacturer Hills Holdings has won a multi-million-dollar contract to provide satellite communications for the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
HVN – HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LTD – down four cents at $1.81
Retailer Harvey Norman’s profit in the first quarter of the 2012/13 financial year has dropped by 20 per cent because of falling sales.
NWS – NEWS CORPORATION – up 74 cents at $24.10
NWSLV – NEWS CORPORATION NON-VOTING SHARES – up 88 cents at $23.79
News Corporation has reported a big lift in net profit despite a weak result from its Australian newspapers because of poor advertising markets and the shift of readers online.
PDN – PALADIN ENERGY LTD – down 1.5 cents at $1.055
Uranium miner Paladin Energy will slash costs by up to $US80 million ($A76.97 million) after putting a freeze on development due to the weak uranium price.
YBR – YELLOW BRICK ROAD HOLDINGS LTD – up six cents at 30 cents
MQG – MACQUARIE GROUP LTD – up 52 cents at $31.74
A financial institution run by Mark Bouris is expected to make an announcement relating to a possible major funding arrangement with Macquarie Group.
