Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday April 20
AIO – ASCIANO LTD – up four cents at $4.79
Shares in ports operator Asciano have been placed in a trading halt pending an announcement by the company about its waterfront dispute.
AGK – AGL ENERGY LTD – down three cents at $14.83
The head of AGL Energy has warned that NSW faces gas supply problems within the next few years unless more coal seam gas (CSG) sites are approved. (AGL ENERGY on file).
API – AUSTRALIAN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD – up three cents at 37 cents
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (API), the company behind the Priceline brand, has returned to the black with a first half net profit of $18.3 million.
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – up 40 cents at $35.50
Mining giant BHP has denied it’s recruiting contract workers to replace retrenched union workers for a Queensland coal mine it closed.
BKL – BLACKMORES LTD – up 16 cents at $27.55
Vitamins and supplements producer Blackmores is poised to take on the Chinese market after delivering a healthy third quarter sales growth.
CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – steady at $50.78
Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev has set out his vision for Australia’s largest bank, but refused to put performance targets on his key aims.
CGF – CHALLENGER LTD – up 16 cents at $3.76
Funds held by annuities provider and funds manager Challenger have grown by 16 per cent in the first three months of calendar 2012 due to stronger equity markets and rising sales.
CMJ – CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS LTD – up six cents at $3.24
Telstra Corporation chief executive David Thodey says the telco would look at increasing its stake in Foxtel should James Packer decide to sell out of the pay TV company.
FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD – up nine cents at $6.02
Fortescue Metals Group has confirmed it will challenge the federal government’s new mining tax in the High Court.
GNS – GUNNS LTD – suspended from trading, last traded at 16 cents
Tasmania’s Integrity Commission has been labelled toothless after dismissing allegations against past Labor state governments over their handling of Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.
IVA – IVANHOE AUSTRALIA LTD – steady at $1.44
Climate change sceptic Ian Plimer has stepped in as chairman of Ivanhoe Australia.
NWS – NEWS CORPORATION LTD – up one cent at $18.95
NWSLV – NEWS CORPORATION LTD NON VOTING SHARES – down two cents at $18.60
News Corp, the owner of the Fox television network, says it has suspended the voting rights of some stock owned by foreigners to comply with a US law that restricts the foreign ownership of broadcast licences.
SGP – STOCKLAND – last traded at $3.05
Property developer Stockland will cut executive bonuses after a review of its remuneration policies.
STO – SANTOS LTD – up four cents at $3.05
Oil and gas producer Santos has maintained its full year production target after lifting its first quarter production and sales revenue.
THG – THAKRAL HOLDINGS GROUP – up 4.5 cents at 58 cents
Canadian private equity group Brookfield has signalled it intends to launch a $400 million takeover bid for Australian property company Thakral.
TLS – TELSTRA CORPORATION – up three cents at $3.39
Telstra has put on hold any decision to undertake a share buyback or lift dividends despite reaping billions of dollars from the national broadband network deal.
WES – WESFARMERS LTD – up 23 cents at $29.35
A2 Milk is being pulled off shelves in Coles and IGA in NSW because of possible contamination.
WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD – up 49 cents at $35.04
Woodside Petroleum has maintained its full year production target and increased its first quarter revenue despite a production dip due to the impact of cyclones.
