Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Wednesday:
APN - APN NEWS & MEDIA - in a trading halt, last traded at 44 cents
Media and retail company APN has lifted its net profit before exceptional items by 10 per cent while tapping shareholders for $132 million for radio acquisitions.
SEK - SEEK - up $2.18, or 16.35 per cent, at $15.51
Jobs website SEEK will buy Kuala Lumpur-based online employment service JobStreet for $580 million as part of its push into Asia.
SUN - SUNCORP - down 32.5 cents, or 2.58 per cent, at $12.275
Suncorp Group has suffered a 4.5 per cent per cent slide in its first half profit after a unexpected rise in insurance claims offset higher premiums.
SXL - SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO - down 11 cents, or 6.8 per cent, at $1.50
Southern Cross Austereo has increased its half year profit by 1.7 per cent, due mainly to an improvement in its television business.
TLS - TELSTRA - up 1.5 cents, or 0.29 per cent, at $5.245
Telstra's directories business Sensis is cutting 800 jobs.
WES - WESFARMERS - down 71 cents, or 1.64 per cent, at $42.69
Coles owner Wesfarmers has lifted its first half profit more than 11 per cent following another strong performance from the supermarkets giant.
WPL - WOODSIDE PETROLEUM - up down 34 cents, or 0.88 per cent, at $38.16
Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum has recorded a 41.4 per cent fall in full year net profit to $US1.75 billion ($A1.94 billion).
