Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange today Monday:

NCM – NEWCREST MINING LTD – down one cent at $40.73

Newcrest Mining is expected to post a 96 per cent leap in underlying profit as stronger gold prices more than offset weather-related production disruptions, analysts say.

ANN – ANSELL LTD – $13.14

LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS LTD – $19.85

UGL – UGL LTD – $12.50

GEM – G8 EDUCATION – 63 cents

Ansell, Leighton Holdings and UGL Ltd post full year results on Monday, while G8 Education Ltd posts its first half results.

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – up 15 cents at $5.94

An appeal by a native title claimant group against the West Australian government’s decision to grant three mining leases to Fortescue Metals Group has been dismissed.

GNS – GUNNS LTD – trade suspended, last traded at 20.5 cents

Timber company Gunns has reached an out of court settlement with members of an environmental group who staged a protest a Tasmanian sawmill.

MCC – MACARTHUR COAL LTD – up 34 cents at $15.24

Peabody Energy says it’s obtained approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board of its $15.50 per share bid for Macarthur Coal.

PXS – PHARMAXIS LTD – down 0.5 cents at

Pharmaxis has reported a one per cent improvement in its annual result, posting a slightly smaller loss than in the previous year as it reduced operating expenses.

TAH – TABCORP HOLDING LTD – up five cents at $3.08

TTS – TATTS GROUP LTD – up two cents at $2.23

Australian gambling companies are expected to report modest growth in earnings this reporting season as consumers rein in their discretionary spending and casino operators face tough competition from overseas.

WDC – WESTFIELD GROUP – down one cent at $7.55

Westfield Group is making its second foray into a new market in a week, spending $160 million to buy into a development site in the northern Italian city of Milan for a regional shopping centre much like its operation in London.