daytrading oct 27 morning, page-140

From AAP:
ASX halts trade on technical problems:

Trading on the Australian Securities Exchange has been halted because of technical problems.

The ASX sent out an alert shortly after the market opened at 1000 AEDT adding that all trades for Thursday were under review.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was halted after falling 0.3 points to 4,242.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 0.1 points at 4300.7.

By 1035 AEDT on the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was down five points at 4,217, with 9,369 contracts traded.

Stocks to watch on Thursday October 27:

ANZ - ANZ BANKING GROUP LTD - up four cents at $21.59

New worldwide capital adequacy and liquidity rules for banks could have a "choking effect" on the global economic recovery and may push up lending rates, ANZ chief executive Michael Smith says.

FOSTERS BREWING GROUP LTD - up one cent at $5.31

A judge has ordered that a $12 billion takeover of Australian brewing giant Foster's be put to the company's shareholders.

FMG - FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD - up seven cents at $4.62

Fortescue Metals says it has secured the cash to pay for its $8.4 billion expansion program after selling $1.5 billion in bonds.

GCL - GLOUCESTER COAL LTD - down two cents at $6.83

Gloucester Coal has increased first quarter coal sales by 17 per cent from a year earlier due mainly to its acquisition of a new mine and increased share in another.

GNS - GUNNS LTD - up one cent at 29 cents

Conservationists have launched a fresh court challenge to timber company Gunns' northern Tasmanian pulp mill.

IAG - INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LTD -up four cents at $3.16

Insurance Australia Group says it is on track to deliver on its full year financial guidance after an encouraging performance in the first quarter.

KAR - KAROON GAS AUSTRALIA LTD - up 10 cents at $4.00

Australian explorer Karoon Gas has told its shareholders that its Brazilian fields are part of the biggest oil discovery in 70 years.

NAB - NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD - last traded at $24.95

National Australia Bank has increased full year profit by 23.6 per cent to a record as the bank's campaign to take market share in personal banking pays off.

OSH - OIL SEARCH LTD - up 13 cents at $6.18

Major resources projects could double economic growth in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and transform the nation into a more equal trading partner which relies less on Australian aid, resources company Oil Search says.

RIO - RIO TINTO LTD - up 11 cents at $66.74

Mining giant Rio Tinto has weighed into Africa's nationalism debate, with chief executive Tom Albanese saying royalty regimes are better for host countries than direct equity ownership in projects. (C

TAH - TABCORP HOLDINGS LTD - up five cents at $2.87

Wagering and gaming firm Tabcorp says it expects to pay its $410 million wagering and betting licence fee to the Victorian government shortly.

TEL - TELECOM CORPORATION OF NZ LTD - down 2.5 cents at $1.94

Telecom New Zealand shareholders have overwhelmingly approved carving the company in two.

TOL - TOL HOLDINGS LTD - down two cents at $4.79

Freight transport company Toll Holdings says conditions in the retail and industrial sectors are likely to remain challenging, but expects strength in other parts of the economy to offset that weakness.

WOW - WOOLWORTHS LTD - up 11 censt at $24.15

Woolworths has increased the size of a note issue to $700 million after strong demand.

The retailer had previously aimed to raise $500 million through the note issue but said its issue of unsecured, subordinated, cumulative notes now aimed to raise $700 million.