Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Thursday:

BLD – BORAL – up two cents, or 0.32 per cent, at $6.26

Boral chairman Bob Every will resign his position at the company’s annual general meeting in November and be replaced by Brian Clark.

BHP – BHP BILLITON – down 81.0 cents, or 2.73 per cent, at $28.82

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – down 15.0 cents, or 6.76 per cent, to $2.07

RIO – RIO TINTO – down $1.42, or 2.47 per cent, at $56.03

The federal government appears to be backing away from a parliamentary inquiry into iron ore, but faces calls to review ways to improve the industry.

GEM – G8 EDUCATION – down one cent, or 0.25 per cent, at $3.98

The childcare centre operator holds its annual general meeting on Thursday.

JHX – JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES – up 15 cents, or one per cent, at $15.22

The construction materials maker releases its full year results on Thursday.

SYD – SYDNEY AIRPORT – up 10.0 cents, or 1.91 per cent, at $5.33

International traffic through Sydney Airport was up 2.9 per cent to a record of 4.5 million passengers in the 12 months to April, while domestic passenger numbers grew solidly, up 1.7 per cent on a year ago.

SVW – SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS – down 14.0 cents, or 1.95 per cent, at $7.03

BPT – BEACH ENERGY – down 3.5 cents, or 3.18 per cent, at $1.065

DLS – DRILLSEARCH ENERGY – down 3.5 cents, or 3.2 per cent, at $1.06

Kerry Stoke’s Seven Group has increased its stakes in energy companies Drillsearch Energy and Beach Energy.

WES – WESFARMERS – down 28.0 cents, or 0.64 per cent, at $43.43

Coles will expand the number of its own branded products to drive growth and to rival Woolworths’ plans to match Aldi prices.