Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at the close Friday, April 4:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 16 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $37.53

CZI – CASSINI RESOURCES – up 16.5 cents, or 367 per cent, at 21 cents

Mining giant BHP Billiton has agreed to sell its West Musgrave nickel project in Western Australia to Cassini Resources.

CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – up eight cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $77.03

Any improvement in economic activity in 2014 will be gradual, Commonwealth Bank says.

NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK – down 19 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $35.37

National Australia Bank boss Cameron Clyne will retire at the end of July and be replaced by the head of NAB’s Bank of New Zealand, Andrew Thorburn.