Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – down 18 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $36.02

RIO – RIO TINTO – down 20 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $62.14

Iron ore prices are set to hit a fresh five-year low, but experts are divided on the outlook for Australia’s most important commodity.

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – up five cents, or 1.25 per cent, at $4.05

Fortescue Metals achieved a new monthly record for iron ore shipments in August.

FXJ – FAIRFAX – down 0.5 cents, or 0.6 per cent, at 86 cents.

Australia’s competition watchdog has cleared the way for Fairfax’s takeover of Canberra online real estate business All Homes.

SYD – SYDNEY AIRPORT – down four cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $4.52

A german firm has won a highly sought after contract to operate Sydney Airport’s duty free retail operations.

WTF – WOTIF.COM – down 15 cents, or 4.6 per cent, at $3.11

The consumer watchdog has put online travel businesses Expedia and Wotif on notice, warning their $700 million tie-up could hurt competition.