Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Thursday:
ASX - ASX - up 70 cents, or 1.96 per cent, at $36.39
Improving global economic conditions and a rise in the number of companies listing on the local share market have contributed to a 11 per cent rise in market operator ASX's half year profit.
DJS - DAVID JONES - down 1.5 cents, or 0.48 per cent, at $3.125
Upmarket retailer David Jones has increased its sales in the three months to January 25 by almost five per cent to $618 million.
FGE - FORGE - placed in voluntary administration, last traded at 91.5 cents
At least 1300 Forge Group employees have been sacked without pay after the engineering company's clients cancelled their contracts.
GMG - GOODMAN GROUP - up 6.5 cents, or 1.37 per cent, at $4.815
Goodman Group posts first half results on Thursday.
GPT - GPT GROUP - down 1.5 cents, or 0.41 per cent, at $3.665
GPT Group posts full year results on Thursday.
PDN - PALADIN ENERGY - up 0.75 cents, or 1.55 per cent, at 49.25 cents
Paladin Energy is expected to post first half results on Thursday.
RHL - RURALCO HOLDINGS - in trading halt, last traded at $3.29
The shares of Australian owned agribusiness Ruralco Holdings has been placed in a trading halt as it prepares to conduct an equity raising.
SEPARATELY: Ruralco Holdings is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting on Thursday.
RIO - RIO TINTO - up 14 cents, or 0.21 per cent, at $68.24
Rio Tinto is expected to post full year results on Thursday.
SGT - SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS - up 3.00 cents, or 0.97 per cent, at $3.12
Optus lifted its net profit more than 40 per cent during the December quarter despite a slide in revenue from mobile customers.
TCL - TRANSURBAN - up 3.00 cents, or 0.44 per cent, at $6.85
Transurban has lifted its first half profit slightly following an increase in revenues from its toll roads.
TLS - TELSTRA - up 4.5 cents, or 0.88 per cent, at $5.155
Telstra has lifted its dividend for the first time in eight years after announcing a $1.7 billion profit.
TGR - TASSAL - up 0.5 cents, or 0.14 per cent, at $3.555
Tassal is expected to post first half results on Thursday.
WEB - WEBJET - up 58 cents, or 23.2 per cent, at $3.08
Webjet shares are flying high after the online travel group lifted its half year profit by 60 per cent.
WES - WESFARMERS - up 9.5 cents, or 0.21 per cent, at $43.14
WOW - WOOLWORTHS - up 16 cents, or 0.46 per cent, at $35.15
Vegetable growers are urging New Zealand's Commerce Commission to investigate Countdown following claims the Australian-owned supermarket chain has been demanding money from suppliers and threatening to blacklist their products if they don't pay up.
