Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday:
BHP – BHP BILLITON
FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP
RIO – RIO TINTO
The price of iron ore has fallen below the $US40 mark, losing 70 US cents to close at $US39.30.
OSH – OILSEARCH
STO – SANTOS
WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM
Oil prices struggle to stay above the milestone $US30 mark. WTI is virtually unchanged at 0745 on Thursday (AEDT), down just two US cents at $US30.42, but Brent crude is down 68 US cents, or 2.20 per cent, at $US30.18.
WES – WESFARMERS
LONDON – British takeover target Home Retail says it’s in advanced talks to sell its Homebase home improvement stores to Australia’s Wesfarmers for STG340 million ($A702.99 million), allowing it to focus on its Argos chain.
