Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Wednesday November 14

BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – down 55 cents at $33.75

Mining giant BHP Billiton has been given until 2016 to go ahead with the expansion at the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.

IPL – INCITEC PIVOT LTD – up 11 cents at $3.02

Incitec Pivot says it is taking steps to reduce the risk associated with its fertiliser business, while continuing to focus on expanding its explosives business, especially in Asia.

LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS LTD – down 34 cents at $16.71

Construction giant Leighton Holdings is reviewing the value of its investment in troubled Brisbane toll road operator BrisConnections.

RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – down 97 cents at $57.67

Rio Tinto has called for unions to get out of the workplace, blaming them for falling productivity, as some of its coal workers planned to go on strike.

SWM – SEVEN WEST MEDIA LTD – up 13 cents at $1.29

Seven West Media has narrowly avoided a first strike over executive pay at its annual general meeting.

UGL – UGL LTD – down four cents at $10.15

The board of engineering company UGL has avoided a shareholder-induced spill, after disgruntled investors didn’t have the required numbers to instigate a so-called second strike over executive remuneration.

WBC – WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – down 55 cents at $24.80

Westpac chief Gail Kelly took a $273,000 pay cut this financial year but her pay still exceeded $9.5 million.