Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange today
ALS – ALESCO CORPORATION – up one cent at $2.02
DLX – DULUXGROUP LTD – down seven cents at $2.99
Paint firm DuluxGroup has extended the timeframe for its $188 million takeover offer for renovation group Alesco.
CRF – CENTRO RETAIL AUSTRALIA – down 0.5 cens at $1.995
Australia’s biggest ever class action settlement has been approved by the courts, with $200 million to be paid by property group Centro and its auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
DOW – DOWNER EDI LTD – down six cents at $3.18
Engineering firm Downer EDI has won a $71.7 million contract to install power lines and substations at BHP Billiton’s Jimblebar iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
EGP – ECHO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LTD – down eight cents at $4.25
CWN – CROWN LTD – up two cents at $8.71
James Packer may have found an ally in his effort to exert control over rival gaming group Echo Entertainment, with Asian gaming giant Genting Group increasing its stake in the owner of Sydney’s only casino.
FXJ – FAIRFAX MEDIA LTD – down 5.5 cents at 59.5 cents
Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart’s move on Fairfax is being resisted by the company’s journalists, but an investment analyst thinks she should be given a chance to prove herself as a media proprietor..
HVN – HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LTD – down two cents at $1.885
Retailer Harvey Norman is aiming to become a market leader in the domestic solar industry after ordering a large shipment of solar panels.
LYC – LYNAS CORPORATION LTD – up eight cents at $1.015
Miner Lynas hopes to fire up its rare earths plant in Malaysia soon after a parliamentary panel ruled the project is safe.
NWS – NEWS CORPORATION LTD – down 18 cents at $20.04
NWSLV – NEWS CORPORATION LTD NON VOTING SHARES – down 18 cents at $19.77
Union officials have foreshadowed that News Limited will soon announce further job losses at printing sites across Australia, but they hope it will be done in full consultation with staff.
QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD – down four cents at $1.14
The head of budget airline Jetstar Japan, which is to launch domestic flights next month, said its presence would not hamper efforts to revive its major shareholder Japan Airlines (JAL).
