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Stocks to watch on Friday

Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday, May 4

AAD – ARDENT LEISURE GROUP LTD – up two cents at $1.295

TThe head of some of Australia’s most popular theme parks says lower interest rates can only be good for business.

AIO – ASCIANO LTD – up four cents at $4.79

Delays in finalising a workplace agreement could hamper earnings growth at ports and rail operator Asciano.

CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – steady at $52.68

Australia’s largest lender Commonwealth Bank has trumped its rivals by cutting its interest rates by 0.4 per cent.

. (RATES BANKS Wrap on file with factbox)

HVN – HARVEY NORMAN – down three cents at $2.04

Harvey Norman’s pre-tax profit for the first nine months of the financial year is down 25 per cent as sales continued to fall in the three months March.

JHX – JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES SE – up one cent at $7.53

The corporate watchdog has put the nation’s company boards on notice after the High Court ruled that former James Hardie directors misled investors about its asbestos compensation fund.

STO – SANTOS LTD – down five cents at $14.11

Setting aside natural gas resources for the nation’s own use would be counter-productive and could leave gas in the ground at a time when new supplies need to be developed, says oil and gas producer Santos.

TAH – TABCORP LTD – up five cents at $2.90

Tabcorp has generated more revenue in the first three months of the calendar year, partly as a result of greater interest in fixed-odds betting and the animated racing game, Trackside.

TSE – TRANSFIELD SERVICES – down seven cents at $2.24

Transfield Services’ public transport joint venture has won an $800 million contract to maintain and operate Sydney’s famous harbour ferry services.

WBC – WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – up 22 cents at $22.91

Westpac chief executive Gail Kelly says she is amazed by the attention variable mortgage rates attract, despite delaying a cut to the bank’s rates to deliver a near $3 billion first half profit. (WESTPAC Wrap with factbox on file)