Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange early on Thursday:

AAX – AUSENCO LTD – up 14 cent at $4.55

BSE – BASE RESOURCES LTD – up two cents at 47.5 cents

Engineering firm Ausenco has won a contract to help construct a mineral sands project in Kenya.

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD – up six cents at $5.83

Fortescue Metals Group is seeking to raise $US1 billion ($A954.29 million) to fund its major expansion plans.

GFF – GOODMAN FIELDER LTD – up one cent at 70 cents

Food giant Goodman Fielder is recalling one of its sandwiches in New Zealand because it may contain the an illness-causing bacteria.

PXS – PHARMAXIS LTD – up 9.5 cents at $1.18

Pharmaceuticals developer Pharmaxis Ltd says its cystic fibrosis treatment, Bronchitol, has been recommended for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia by the government’s expert advisory body.

RRS – RANGE RESOURCES LTD – last traded at 19 cents

Range Resources is expected to post first half results on Wednesday.

SIP – SIGMA PHARMACEUTICALS LTD – up one cent at 56.5 cents

Sigma Pharmaceuticals has called on Fair Work Australia to help end a strike by workers that has affected the supply of some products to chemists.

SGP – STOCKLAND – up nine cents at $3.16

QUB – QUBE LOGISTICS HOLDINGS LTD – down 0.5 cents at $1.71

Property developer Stockland Group has expanded its on-market buyback of its securities to up to 10 per cent of issued capital.

SGT – SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD – down one cent at $2.34

Appeals of NRL and AFL against Optus in sports broadcasting case continues in the Federal Court.

TOL – TOLL HOLDINGS LTD – up seven cents at $5.74

Coal seam gas explorer and producer QGC has awarded a $45 million transport and storage contract to Toll Energy Logistics.