Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 42 cents, or 1.46 per cent, to $29.24

Mining giant BHP Billiton has been hit with a $US25 million fine for violating a bribery law by treating foreign officials to trips to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

JHX – JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES – up $1.77, or 11.63 per cent, to $16.99

Sales growth in Australia, Europe and the US has helped James Hardie boost its annual profit to $US291 million ($A369.57 million).

FDC – FEDERATION CENTRES – up 3.0 cents, or 0.09 per cent, to $3.06

NVN – NOVION – up 1.5 cents, or 0.59 per cent, to $2.535

The competition watchdog will not oppose a merger of two major shopping centre owners, as long as one of them offloads a centre in south east Melbourne.

PNA – PANAUST – up 0.5 cents, or 0.27 per cent, at $1.85

The copper and gold miner holds its annual general meeting on Friday.

QFX – QUICKFLIX – down 0.1 cents, or 33.33 per cent, to 0.2 cents

Film and TV streaming service Quickflix has raised $775,000 from investors as it strives to compete with new competitors like Netflix.

WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM – up 54 cents, or 1.57 per cent, to $34.87

Woodside Petroleum is speeding up its cost cutting program after slashing 800 jobs, but says it will invest in growth ahead of a major decision on its key Browse project.