Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Wednesday, September 19

ALS – ALESCO CORPORATION LTD – up 0.5 cents at $1.905

DLX – DULUXGROUP LTD – down six cents at $3.27

Alesco chairman Mark Luby has signalled the door is still open for further talks with paint maker DuluxGroup over its long-running $210 million takeover bid.

DJS – DAVID JONES LTD – last traded at $2.27

The department store retailer releases its full year results on Wednesday.

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD – up 51 cents at $3.50

Shares in Fortescue Metals have shot up with investors pleased the iron ore miner appears to have staved off debt problems for now by securing a $US4.5 billion ($A4.31 billion) debt facility.

IAG – INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LTD – down five cents at $4.38

Insurance company IAG will pay out millions of dollars to its claimants after admitting it underpaid them.

NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD – up eight cents at $25.56

A court says the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) does not have to hand over documents relating to the banking regulator’s probe into the National Australia Bank’s (NAB) exposure to US subprime mortgages.

WDR – WESTERN DESERT RESOURCES LTD – up nine cents at 94.5 cents

A Chinese steel maker has offered $435 million for Northern Territory gold, iron ore and copper explorer Western Desert Resources.