Stocks to watch at noon on Wednesday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Wednesday:

AZJ - AURIZON HOLDINGS LTD - down 23.5 cents, or 5.58 per cent, at $3.975

Rail operator Aurizon faces multi-million dollars worth of costs from disruptions caused by the Queensland floods.

The group gave the warning on Wednesday as it reported a 10.3 per cent drop in first half profit.

BCS - BRISCONNECTIONS UNIT TRUSTS - last traded at 40 cents

The collapse of the company behind Brisbane's Airport Link toll road is the biggest construction project disaster in recent history, the Australian Shareholders Association says.

BHP - BHP BILLITON LTD - down 47.5 cents, or 1.22 per cent, at $38.525

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers is stepping down after nearly six years as head of the global mining giant.

SEPARATELY: Scottish-born Andrew Mackenzie had an impressive academic career before rising to be the new chief executive of one of the world's largest resources company.

SEK - SEEK LTD - up 46 cents, or 5.24 per cent, at $9.23

Seek says it will rely on growth in its overseas businesses to make up for an expected shortfall in revenue from Australia, amid fears the local jobless rate will continue to rise.

SUL - SUPER RETAIL GROUP LTD - up 11 cents, or 1.03 per cent, at $10.75

Leisure and sports retailer Super Retail Group has increased its first half profit by 73.5 per cent due to its leading market position.

SUN - SUNCORP GROUP LTD - down 50.5 cents, or 4.33 per cent, at $11.165

Suncorp Group's first half profit has grown by 48 per cent due to lower insurance claims and stronger financial markets in the six months to the end of December.

SWM - SEVEN WEST MEDIA LTD - down 18 cents, or 7.14 per cent, at $2.34

Seven West Media shares have fallen more than seven per cent after the company said it had made a first half loss due to writedowns on its magazine and online properties amid a challenging advertising environment.

TLS - TELSTRA CORPORATION - down 1.5 cents, or 0.32 per cent, at $4.615

Australia's largest telco has unveiled plans to try and cope with the nation's rapidly growing love affair with mobile internet usage.

TOL - TOLL HOLDINGS LTD - up 23 cents, or 4.08 per cent, at $5.86

Transport and logistics group Toll Holdings has lifted its first half profit by more than 20 per cent and expects stronger earnings for the rest of the year.

WPL - WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD - up $1.19, or 3.14 per cent, at $39.10

Woodside Petroleum has lifted its full year net profit by 98 per cent and says it is on track to lift oil production this year.

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