Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday, July 3:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 35 cents, or 1.3 per cent, at $27.00

RIO – RIO TINTO – up two cents, or 0.04 per cent, at $53.03

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – up eight cents, or 4.4 per cent, at $1.91

Iron ore prices fell another 0.3 per cent to $US59.20 a tonne overnight, adding to the previous session’s drop, though Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh has shrugged off pessimistic price forecasts.

KMD – KATHMANDU – down 0.5 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $1.525

Kathmandu has urged shareholders to take no action on a full takeover offer from Briscoe Group pending the board’s response, and has retained Goldman Sachs as an adviser.

PBG – PACIFIC BRANDS – up 16.5 cents, or 50.8 per cent, at 49 cents

The Bonds clothing and Sheridan bedding owner has made a surprise upgrade to its earnings due to strong sales in May and June, and tight cost controls.

SIP – SIGMA PHARMACEUTICALS – down 1.5 cents, or 1.9 per cent, at 76.5 cents

The former boss of Sigma Pharmaceuticals and the company’s chief financial officer could be jailed after pleading guilty to falsifying the company’s accounts.

TFC – TFS CORPORATION – down nine cents, or 5.7 per cent, at $1.495

Sandalwood plantation operator TFS Corporation has re-affirmed its expectation of a net profit of at least $90 million for the 2014/15 financial year.