Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, June 21

AUT – AURORA OIL & GAS – down six cents at $3.07

EKA – EUREKA ENERGY LTD – steady at 45 cents

Suitor Aurora Oil & Gas has appointed three representatives to takeover target Eureka Energy’s board after increasing its stake to 68.4 per cent.

EGP – ECHO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LTD – up three cents at $4.28

CWN – CROWN LTD – last traded at $8.64

Billionaire James Packer’s potential exit from some of his remaining media assets gives him extra leverage to pursue rival casinos operator Echo Entertainment Group.

FXJ – FAIRFAX MEDIA LTD – down 0.5 cents at 59 cents

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne has suggested the corporate regulator administer charters of editorial independence.

LYC – LYNAS CORPORATION LTD – steady at $1.015

A controversial new processing plant in Malaysia run by rare earths miner Lynas has received the support of a Malaysian parliamentary committee.

MTS – METCASH LTD – down 15 cents at $3.82

Grocery wholesaler Metcash plans to take its competitive push against the supermarket giants into the hardware sector by taking full control of the Mitre 10 brand.

NWS – NEWS CORPORATION – up 11 cents at $20.15

NSWLV – NEWS CORPORATION NON-VOTING – up 13 cents at $19.90

CMJ – CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS LTD – up 30 cents at $3.38

TLS – TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD – down five cents at $3.59

Australia’s biggest newspaper publisher, Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd has announced plans to restructure and shed staff on the same day it launched a near $2 billion bid for Consolidated Media.

RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – up 95 cents at $57.72

Rio Tinto has committed $US3.7 billion ($A3.64 billion) to expanding its massive iron ore operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.