Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Friday:
HVN - HARVEY NORMAN - up 5.5 cents, or 1.76 per cent, at $3.185
Harvey Norman releases half year results on Friday
JHX - JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES - up $1.06, or 7.75 per cent, at $14.73
James Hardie Industries releases third quarter results on Friday
QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS - up 1.25 cents, or 1.08 per cent, at $1.1675
Unions want outside experts to review Qantas's full operations to determine where cuts can be made, saying they don't believe the company's management has looked at all the issues.
RFG - RETAIL FOOD GROUP - up 10 cents, or 2.27 per cent, at $4.50
Growth in earnings from its Pizza Capers and Crust Gourmet Pizza businesses has contributed to an 18 per cent rise in half year profit for Retail Food Group.
VAH - VIRGIN AUSTRALIA - down 0.25 cents, or 0.71 per cent, at 34.75 cents
Virgin Australia has slumped to a first half loss of $83.7 million as it fights to take market share from rival Qantas.
SEPARATELY: Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti says the best thing the government and Labor could do for airlines is to scrap the carbon tax and end the "age of entitlements" for business.
WOW - WOOLWORTHS - down 65.5 cents, or 1.80 per cent, at $35.765
Woolworths has lifted its first half profit 14.5 per cent amid solid sales growth from its core supermarkets business.
