Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Wednesday, May 23
BHP – BHP BILLITON LTD – up 21 cents, or 0.69 per cent, to $32.32
There will be no immediate job losses at BHP Billiton’s manganese alloy plant in northern Tasmania after a decision to restart the loss making operation.
BLD – BORAL LTD – up five cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $3.61
Boral boss Mark Selway has been pushed from his post a month after the building products company issued a surprise profit warning
GNC – GRAINCORP – up 76 cents, or 8.54 per cent, to $9.65
GrainCorp expects another large national harvest after a bumper crop helped lift first half profit by more than 50 per cent and upgraded its full year profit forecast.
LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS – up 65 cents, or 3.76 per cent, to $17.94
Leighton Holdings recent downgrading of its profit guidance has drawn a humbling apology from its board in front of angry shareholders.
QAN – QANTAS – up four cents, or 2.8 per cent, to $1.47
Qantas is splitting its domestic airline business from its loss-making international operations, but says customer benefits such as its popular frequent flyer scheme won’t be put at risk.
RIC – RIDLEY CORPORATION LTD – up two cents at $1.195
Agriproducts firm Ridley Corporation says it expects a net profit of between $17 million and $19 million for the financial year ending June 30.
TGA – THORN GROUP – up 4.5 cents, or 3.2 per cent, to $1.46.
Thorn Group expects growth to slow in fiscal 2013, but the owner of Radio Rentals insists it has not been affected by turmoil on financial markets.
