Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange Wednesdsay, November 23

BLS – BLUESCOPE STEEL LTD – last traded at 61 cents, in trading halt

BlueScope Steel plans to sell $600 million in new shares at a 34 per cent discount to raise money to strengthen the company’s financial position by repaying debt.

CGF – CHALLENGER LTD – up four cents at $4.13

Challenger Ltd is due to annual general meeting.

CMW – CROMWELL PROPERTY GROUP – up 1.5 cents at 67 cents

Crowmwell Property Group announces $145.4 equity raising, and $186mln Brisbane office building acquisition.

CER – CENTRO RETAIL GROUP – in trading halt, at 31 cents.

CNP – CENTRO PROPERTIES GROUP – in trading halt, at four cents

Shopping centre operator Centro has successfully jumped the first hurdle in its bid for a restructure at a series of meetings for securityholders to consider the move.

IIN – IINET LTD – steady at $2.55

iiNet is due to hold its AGM on Tuesday.

IFL – IOOF HOLDINGS LTD – last traded at $5.99.

IOOF Holdings is due to hold its AGM on Wednesday.

NVT – NAVITAS LTD – up two cents at $3.92

Navitas Ltd is due to hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday

QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD – down seven cents at $1.57

One of the three unions involved in a long-running industrial dispute with Qantas says it is not scared of arbitration.

Separately: The pilots’ union is calling for a full inquiry into the grounding of the Qantas fleet, after reports drivers were booked to deliver notices to thousands of staff days before it was announced.

QRN – QR NATIONAL LTD – down 11 cents at $3.35

The Queensland government has declared victory in its controversial privatisation of the state freight rail line.

TGA – THORN GROUP LTD – up seven cents at $1.70

Thorn Group expects to increase full year profit by more than 20 per cent to $28 million as lower income households rent fridges and washing machines for longer.

VBA – VIRGIN BLUE HOLDINGS LTD – last traded at 37 cents

Virgin Blue HOldings is due to hold its AGM on Wednesday.