Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, Aug 14:
BOQ – BANK OF QUEENSLAND – down 23 cents, or 1.9 per cent, at $11.98
The unexpected resignation of Bank of Queensland chief executive Stuart Grimshaw has dented the company’s share price.
CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – down 73 cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $80.96
Commonwealth Bank has unveiled a monster $8.68 billion profit but there are growing concerns it’s best performances may be behind it.
CSL – CSL – up $1.69, or 2.6 per cent, at $67.24
Biopharmaceutical group CSL has flagged another $950 million share buyback after lifting its full year profit to $US1.31 billion.
CWN – CROWN RESORTS – up one cent, or 0.1 per cent, at $14.83
James Packer’s Crown Resorts has paid $10 million to take full ownership of betting firm Betfair Australasia.
CRZ – CARSALES.COM – down 68 cents, or 6.1 per cent, at $10.50
Carsales.com’s full year profit grew by 14 per cent, and the new and used car seller is making aggressive moves to help Australians fund their next automotive purchase.
EGP – ECHO ENTERTAINMENT – up 10 cents, or 3.1 per cent, at $3.30
Echo Entertainment’s earnings have beaten expectations, and with more competition coming to the table the casino operator is splashing more cash on high rollers.
GFF – GOODMAN FIELDER – down one cent, or 1.6 per cent, at 63 cents
Australia’s biggest food maker insists a disappointing profit result and expectations of another difficult year ahead will not derail a $1.3 billion takeover offer for the company.
OZL – OZ MINERALS – down 19 cents, or 4.2 per cent, at $4.29
Oz Minerals is poised to release a critical study of Australia’s largest undeveloped copper resource which it hopes will attract up to a dozen international backers.
PRY – PRIMARY HEALTH CARE – down 20 cents, or 4.15 per cent, at $4.62
Medical centres operator Primary Health Care is confident of lifting its earnings this financial year, and says a federal government plan for Medicare co-payments could create more business opportunities.
SUN – SUNCORP – up 37 cents, or 2.6 per cent, at $14.49
Suncorp shares have hit a six-and-a-half year high as growth in its insurance and banking operations boosted annual profit by 49 per cent.
