Stocks to watch on Thursday
Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Thursday:
ABC - ADELAIDE BRIGHTON - up two cents, or 0.55 per cent, at $3.64
Restructuring of cement operations has contributed to Adelaide Brighton's half year profit fall of 16 per cent.
AGO - ATLAS IRON - down 4.5 cents, or 7.3 per cent, at 57 cents
Atlas Iron admits that if the iron ore price falls much further it will no longer be profitable.
BBG - BILLABONG INTERNATIONAL - down two cents, or 3.6 per cent, at 54 cents
Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has posted another multi-million dollar loss, but chief executive Neil Fiske says the company's recovery is under way.
MVF - MONASH IVF - up 2.5 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $1.65
In vitro fertilisation provider Monash IVF Group has beaten its prospectus forecast for pro forma net profit in 2014 and says it is on track to meet its forecasts for fiscal 2015.
NEC - NINE ENTERTAINMENT - down seven cents, or 3.3 per cent, at $2.03
Nine Entertainment boss David Gyngell says he's happy with the business's performance but warns times are still tough in television land.
NST - NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES - down half a cent, or 0.3 per cent, at $1.74
Australia's second largest gold miner plans to triple its exploration budget to $50 million as competitors cut back spending.
PGR - PAS GROUP - down 1.5 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at $1.085
The fashion retailer behind the Review and Yarra Trail labels expects to lift its profits by more than a third this year after weathering a "perfect storm".
PMP - PMP - up half a cent, or 1.1 per cent, at 47 cents
Competition in the softening magazine and catalogue market has printer PMP considering more changes to its business.
PPT - PERPETUAL - down $2.30, or 4.8 per cent, at $46.05
Stronger share markets and cost cutting have contributed to 34 per cent growth in wealth manager Perpetual's annual profit.
PRT - PRIME MEDIA - steady at $1.03
Regional broadcaster Prime Media says advertising conditions remain tough after achieving a small lift in annual revenue.
QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS - up nine cents, or 6.95 per cent, at $1.385
Qantas has posted a record $2.8 billion loss but chief Alan Joyce insists the airline is through the worst of what has been the most turbulent period in its 94-year history.
RFG - RETAIL FOOD GROUP - down one cent, or 0.2 per cent, at $4.65
A slice of Australia's pizza market has helped the company behind Michel's Patisserie lift its annual profit to a record high.
RHC - RAMSAY HEALTH CARE - up 73 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at $52.06
Australia's biggest private hospitals operator, Ramsay Health Care, says it has delivered its best financial results since listing on the Australian share market.
