AAP
Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at the close:
ALS - ALESCO CORPORATION LTD - up 10 cents to $4.35
Alesco Corporation remains cautious as January trading was softer than expected, after reporting a first-half profit decline of 23.2 per cent.
CBH - CBH RESOURCES LTD - up 0.5 cents to 15 cents
CBH Resources can start the first stage of operations at the Rasp zinc and lead mine in Broken Hill after getting government approvals.
NCM - NEWCREST MINING LTD - down 17 cents to $32.13
Gold miner Newcrest Mining recorded a 17 per cent increase in production in the second quarter of fiscal 2010, but maintained its guidance for full year production.
QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD - up three cents to $2.87
Qantas subsidiary Jetstar will begin rolling out SMS boarding pass technology in 2010 as its aims to improve its customer service.
WEB - WEBJET LTD - up one cent to $2.30
Webjet has posted a 40 per cent rise in first half profit with transaction volumes defying the economic trend, leading the company to suggest that demand is recovering from the global financial crisis.
