Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Friday:
BBG - BILLABONG - in a trading halt, last traded at 74 cents
Troubled surfwear icon Billabong has posted another loss after being weighed down by restructuring costs and further weakness from its international operations.
CWN - CROWN RESORTS - down 61 cents, or 3.54 per cent, at $16.62
James Packer's casino operator Crown has lifted its first half profit almost 30 per cent thanks to a strong performance from its Macau business.
IAG - INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP - up 9.00 cents, or 1.63 per cent, at $5.61
WES - WESFARMERS - up 82 cents, or 1.90 per cent, at $43.87
Insurance Australia Group has lifted its first half profit almost 40 per cent, despite a decline in its margins due to higher than expected claims.
SEPARATELY: Insurance Australia Group, New Zealand's largest general insurer, has reported a 75 per cent first-half gain in its kiwi operations.
NAB - NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK - down 66 cents, or 1.87 per cent, at $34.50
National Australia Bank has grown its cash profit in the first quarter by seven per cent to $1.55 billion.
OCG - OCEANAGOLD - up 7.00 cents, or 2.76 per cent, at $2.61
Melbourne-based OceanaGold Corp has reported an annual net loss of $US47.9 million ($A53.26 million), as the company writes down its New Zealand assets in the face of a declining gold price, offsetting a 44 per cent gain in revenue.
STO - SANTOS - down 35 cents, or 2.45 per cent, at $13.92
Oil and gas producer Santos has announced a net profit of $516 million in line with last year's result as record sales revenue was offset by lower interest income and higher exploration costs.
