Stocks to watch on Thursday
Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Thursday:
AMP - AMP - up 21 cents, or 3.8 per cent, at $5.73
Wealth manager AMP has lifted its underlying profit 16 per cent, thanks to solid earnings growth across its divisions.
AIO - ASCIANO - up 21.5 cents, or 3.6 per cent, at $6.235
Rail freight and ports operator Asciano's full year net profit slumped by 24 per cent after a year of restructuring that it says will drive earnings growth in fiscal 2015.
MGR - MIRVAC - down 4.5 cents, or 2.4 per cent, at $1.86
An improving housing market has helped Mirvac to triple its full year profit and the property group expects to grow its earnings further over the next 12 months.
ORG - ORIGIN ENERGY - up 66 cents, or 4.65 per cent, at $14.85
Origin Energy has increased net profit by 40 per cent and says the looming start-up of its large gas project this year will increase cash flow by $US1 billion.
QAN - QANTAS - up 0.75 cents, or 0.57 per cent, at $1.3275
Qantas is yet to make a decision about the future of its frequent flyer business, despite reports it has dumped plans for a partial sale.
SUL - SUPER RETAIL GROUP - up 53 cents, or six per cent, at $9.25
Auto, sports and leisure retailer The Super Retail Group has forecast modest growth for the first half of 2014/15 after widespread belt-tightening hurt its sales in May and June.
SYD - SYDNEY AIRPORT - up one cent, or 0.23 per cent, at $4.36
Sydney Airport says it's well placed to capitalise on traffic growth after more than doubling its first half profit.
TTS - TATTS - down 19.5 cents, or 5.4 per cent, at $3.425
Gambling outfit Tatts has made a solid start to the new financial year, but its profit was dragged down by a $42.6 million health benefit levy charged to its discontinued poker machine business.
TWE - TREASURY WINE ESTATES - down 3.5 cents, or 0.66 per cent, at $5.295
Treasury Wine Estates has suffered a $100.9 million full year loss after a tumultuous 12 months that included takeover bids, leadership changes and a major restructure.
