Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, Aug 7:
AAD – ARDENT LEISURE – in a trading halt at $2.51
Theme park and Goodlife gym owner Ardent Leisure is more than doubling its Western Australia fitness clubs by buying Fitness First sites in the state’s capital.
ABC – ADELAIDE BRIGHTON – down three cents, or 0.8 per cent, at $3.58
Construction material firm Adelaide Brighton will buy concrete businesses in South Australia and Queensland.
ASL – AUSDRILL – down 9.5 cents, or 8.9 per cent, at 97 cents
Mining services firm Ausdrill has flagged another hit to its profit and warned a recovery in its industry will take longer than previously expected.
BCI – BC IRON – down two cents, or 0.6 per cent, at $3.39
Pilbara iron ore miner BC Iron predicts the iron ore price will head above $US100 per tonne over the next six months as demand for the company’s product remains strong.
ORI – ORICA – down 68 cents, or 3.2 per cent, at $20.67
Orica will look to split off its chemicals business as it looks to refocus on its mining services division.
SPO – SPOTLESS – down 1.5 cents, or 0.8 per cent, at $1.85
Cleaning company Spotless has clinched a $1.2 billion contract from the Australian Department of Defence.
WES – WESFARMERS – down three cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $42.93
Coles has put one of its most prominent critics on its payroll as it works to repair its battered image over its treatment of suppliers.
