Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday, Oct 10:
BOQ – BANK OF QUEENSLAND – up 32 cents, or 2.7 per cent, at $12.10
Bank of Queensland has posted a record profit, but expects challenging lending conditions to persist due to weak business and consumer confidence.
MGR – MIRVAC GROUP – up four cents, or 2.4 per cent, at $1.735
Property developer Mirvac is buying Sydney’s Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre for $310 million.
NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK – up 32 cents, or one per cent, at $32.47
National Australia Bank’s troubled UK operations have taken another bite out of the lender’s earnings, delivering a $1 billion-plus hit to its books.
RIO – RIO TINTO – down six cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $59.03
Rio Tinto has defended its massive iron ore expansion against recent criticism, saying other miners would take advantage if it did not expand.
TCL – TRANSURBAN – up one cent, or 0.1 per cent, at $7.85
Toll road owner Transurban has raised the prospect of motorists paying more to use so-called “express” lanes, and varying tolls according to traffic conditions.
WTF – WOTIF.COM – up two cents, or 0.6 per cent, at $3.30
A $700 million foreign takeover of Wotif.com has received approval from the travel group’s shareholders.
