Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Friday:
AHE - AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS - down 12 cents, or 3.24 per cent, at $3.58
Motor retailer and logistics company Automotive Holdings Group has lifted its half year net profit by just over one per cent despite a tough six months for its logistics division.
CQR - CHARTER HALL RETAIL (REIT) - up 2.00 cents, or 0.55 per cent, at $3.66
Property landlord Charter Hall Retail REIT has announced a 30.4 per cent jump in its half year profit.
NCM - NEWCREST MINING - down 15.00 cents, or 1.33 per cent, at $11.11
Newcrest Mining expects to achieve its full year production and cash flow targets despite suffering an 88 per cent fall in first half profit.
PDN - PALADIN ENERGY - steady at 47.5 cents
Paladin's larger half year loss, of $US255 million ($A285.36 million), was due to uranium prices that have been low since 2011 and heavy write-downs of assets.
QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS - up 3.5 cents, or 2.95 per cent, at $1.22
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he supports changing the law to allow Qantas to be majority overseas-owned, but won't be offering the airline a "free ride on the taxpayer".
SGM - SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT - up 63.00 cents, or 6.29 per cent, at $10.65
The world's largest recycler, Sims Metal Management, has returned to profitability following improvements in its Australian and US businesses.
TPI - TRANSPACIFIC INDUSTRIES - down 0.75 cents, or 0.65 per cent, at $1.1375
Half year profit for waste management firm Transpacific Industries has been boosted by the sale of its commercial vehicles business, while its underlying earnings were steady.
