Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Wednesday:
AGK - AGL ENERGY - up 26 cents, or 1.71 per cent, at $15.43
The NSW government has agreed to sell Macquarie Generation's two power plants to AGL Energy, conditional on Australia's competition watchdog not opposing the outcome.
APN - APN NEWS & MEDIA - up 0.5 cents, or 1.16 per cent, at 43.5 cents
APN News & Media, the Australian publisher of the New Zealand Herald newspaper, has agreed to sell its unprofitable brandsExclusive online shopping site, having slashed the value of goodwill on a business acquired in 2012.
BLD - BORAL - up 43.5 cents, or 8.7 per cent, at $5.435
Construction group Boral has enjoyed improved first half earnings in all four of its divisions in lifting underlying profit to more than $90 million but predicts a weaker second half.
CBA - COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA - down 26 cents, or 0.34 per cent, at $75.66
Commonwealth Bank has increased its half yearly profit by 14 per cent to $4.27 billion, but its chief is still warning of volatile global and domestic markets.
SEPARATELY: ASB Bank has driven growth in first-half earnings for Commonwealth Bank of Australia's New Zealand businesses.
CPU - COMPUTERSHARE - up 42.5 cents, or 3.83 per cent, at $11.515
Shareholder services company Computershare has recorded a 47.4 per cent rise in its half year year net profit as it reduced costs by finding more operational efficiencies.
CRZ - CARSALES.COM - up 27 cents, or 2.88 per cent, at $9.65
Shares in online classifieds business Carsales.com have jumped after the company lifted its first half profit 17 per cent.
CSL - CSL - down $2.23, or 3.19 per cent, at $67.63
Blood products and vaccines maker CSL has lifted its first half profit 3.4 per cent after solid sales growth offset costs relating to a US lawsuit.
DMP - DOMINO'S PIZZA - up 90 cents, or 5.25 per cent, at $18.03
Pizza company Domino's has delivered a 28.2 per cent rise in first-half profit, due largely to a successful entry into the Japanese fast food market.
DXS - DEXUS PROPERTY GROUP - up 0.75 cents, or 0.73 per cent, at $1.0325
Dexus Property Group has notched up a 3.8 per cent rise in its half year net profit to $277.2 million.
FGE - FORGE GROUP - last traded at 91.5 cents
Mining services company Forge Group has been placed into voluntary administration after its financiers withdrew their support.
GFF - GOODMAN FIELDER - down 4.5 cents, or 6.62 per cent, at 63.5 cents
Shares in food producer Goodman Fielder have dropped almost seven per cent after the company unveiled a $65 million first half loss.
NBL - NONI B - up 2.5 cents, or 4.13 per cent, at 63 cents
Fashion retailer Noni B plans to close seven stores in the next few months after poor sales resulted in a three per cent slide in its first half profit.
OZL - OZ MINERALS - up 37 cents, or 10.88 per cent, at $3.77
OZ Minerals shares have jumped almost more than 11 per cent after the gold and copper miner announced a loss of nearly $300 million and the departure of its chief executive Terry Burgess.
PRY - PRIMARY HEALTH CARE - down 18.5 cents, or 3.75 per cent, at $4.745
Primary Health Care has boosted net profit in the first half of the year by 8.6 per cent to $75.5 million.
SGH - SLATER & GORDON - up 14 cents, or 3.32 per cent, at $4.35
Law firm Slater & Gordon has increased its half yearly profit by 21 per cent as it expands into the United Kingdom.
SGP - STOCKLAND - up 8.00 cents, or 2.15 per cent, at $3.80
Property group Stockland has swung back into the black with a $298 million first half net profit.
