Stocks to watch at noon on Thursday

Thursday 23rd of February 2012 12:09:37 PM By AAP

Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Thursday:

APN - APN NEWS AND MEDIA LTD - up two cents, or 2.44 per cent, at 84 cents

APN News & Media has unveiled a $45.1 million full year loss as it prepares to expand its outdoor advertising business.

AUN - AUSTAR UNITED COMMUNICATIONS LTD - up three cents, or 2.48 per cent, at $1.24

Regional pay television operator Austar's full year net profit rose by 21 per cent despite a fall in the number of subscribers.

BHP - BHP BILLITON LTD - down 27 cents, or 0.74 per cent, at $36.14

Jobs could be under threat at BHP Billiton's Tasmanian manganese alloy plant as the mining giant undertakes a three-month review of the operation.

CMJ - CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS LTD - down four cents, or 1.43 per cent, at $2.75

Consolidated Media Holdings says net profit declined in the first half amid a very challenging retail environment and general economic uncertainty.

DJS - DAVID JONES LTD - up six cents, or 2.33 per cent, at $2.63

David Jones says its second quarter sales fell 3.1 per cent in a challenging retail environment, as the department store retailer reaffirmed its first half guidance.

FXJ - FAIRFAX MEDIA LTD - down one cent, or 1.21 per cent, at 81.5 cents

Fairfax Media's first half profit fell by 44 per cent, adding that January's revenue also was down and difficult trading conditions would likely continue.

IAG - INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LTD - up 24 cents, or 8.26 per cent, at $3.14

Insurance Australia Group's first half profit fell by 10.6 per cent after incurring $396 million in claims from natural disasters.

ILU - ILUKA RESOURCES LTD - down 87 cents, or 4.99 per cent, at $16.56

China's hunger for mineral sands has helped propel Iluka's 2011 full year net profit 15 times higher from the previous year.

ORI - ORICA LTD - up eight cents, or 0.31 per cent, at $26.20

Chemical giant Orica's handling of a chemical leak from its Newcastle plant has been described as "grossly inadequate" in a scathing report by a NSW upper house inquiry.

ORG - ORIGIN ENERGY LTD - up 23 cents, or 1.67 per cent, at $14.02

Energy producer and retailer Origin Energy has posted a first half net profit of $794 million compared to a $136 million loss for the previous corresponding period.

PPT - PERPETUAL LTD - down two cents, or 0.08 per cent, at $23.51

Wealth manager Perpetual's new chief executive says the company will aggressively cut costs as profits continue to fall and investment markets remain weak.

RHC - RAMSAY HEALTH CARE LTD - down nine cents, or 0.48 per cent, at $18.65

The head of Australia's largest private hospitals operator, Ramsay Health Care, has attacked the federal government's plan to means test the private health insurance rebate.

STO - SANTOS LTD - down seven cents, or 0.49 per cent, at $14.24

A report by coal seam gas (CSG) mining company Santos about its operations in the Pilliga East State Forest reads like "an environmental horror movie", green groups say.

SYD - SYDNEY AIRPORT - down two cents, or 0.75 per cent, at $2.63

Sydney Airport Holdings has reported a full year tax loss due to the sale of its stake in two European airports in 2011.

TOL - TOLL HOLDINGS LTD - up one cent, or 0.19 per cent, at $5.20

Transport group Toll Holdings has had a four per cent fall in first half profit and says economic conditions make it difficult to forecast its performance for the rest of the year.

TTS - TATTS GROUP LTD - up three cents, or 1.20 per cent, at $2.52

Gambling firm Tatts Group has lifted its first half profit by 11 per cent and says it is encouraged by the outlook for the rest of the financial year.

VAH - VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD - up 2.5 cents, or 6.85 per cent, at 39 cents

Virgin Australia Holdings says the chase for more business customers is progressing ahead of schedule and has delivered a hefty improvement in first half net profit.