Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday:

AAD – ARDENT LEISURE – up 22.5 cents, or 11.34 per cent, at $2.21

Ardent Leisure has lifted third quarter revenues by 17 per cent, with strong performances by its US family entertainment division offsetting weakness at its local gyms.

ANZ – ANZ BANKING GROUP – up 88 cents, or 2.65 per cent, at $34.12

ANZ has beaten market expectations by lifting its first half cash profit five per cent to $3.676 billion, thanks to solid growth across its Australian and international operations.

CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK – up 13 cents, or 0.15 per cent, at $88.15

Australia’s largest bank the Commonwealth Bank issues its March quarter trading update on Wednesday

NWS – NEWS CORP – up one cent, or 0.05 per cent, at $20.19

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has suffered a seven per cent slide in its third quarter earnings due in part to further weakness in the print advertising market.

TOL – TOLL HOLDINGS – up two cents, or 0.22 per cent, at $9.00

Japan Post is a step closer to its $6.5 billion takeover of Australian logistics company Toll Holdings after the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office raised no objections to the deal.

WOW – WOOLWORTHS – up three cents, or 0.01 per cent, at $29.63

Supermarket giant Woolworths releases its third quarter sales results.