Stockwatch Week to July 20

A round-up of some of the key stock movements on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in the trading week to Friday, July 20, 2011:

(Includes change on share price from previous Friday close)

AIO - ASCIANO LTD - down five cents or 1.15 per cent to $4.31

Asciano will axe half its Sydney workforce as it expands and automates its Port Botany container terminal.

APA - APA GROUP - flat at $4.96

HDF - HASTINGS DIVERSIFIED UTILITIES FUND - up 15 cents or 6.44 per cent to $2.48

APA is clear to step up its push to buy fellow energy infrastructure investor Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund (HDF) after the competition watchdog gave its blessing to the proposed deal.

BHP - BHP BILLITON LTD - up 88 cents or 2.89 per cent to $31.36

BHP Billiton is expected to face a challenging few months as risk-averse investors abandon the stock despite positive production numbers.

CVW - CLEARVIEW WEALTH LTD - up one cent or 1.87 per cent to 54.5 cents

ClearView Wealth Management's board has unanimously rejected a $220 million unsolicited takeover bid from CCP Bid Co.

FXJ - FAIRFAX MEDIA LTD - up two cents or 3.57 per cent to 58 cents

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart's battle over board seats at Fairfax Media is expected to continue despite the appointment of her close ally Jack Cowin as an independent director

FMG - FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD - down 17 cents or 3.75 per cent to $.36

Fortescue Metals Group says its exports will continue to grow, despite lower iron ore prices and global jitters about a slowdown in China.

GLG - GERARD LIGHTING GROUP LTD - up 27 cents or 36 per cent to $1.02

The Gerard Lighting Group has endorsed a $186 million takeover offer from Lighting Group Australia, sending shares soaring more than 26 per cent.

GRR - GRANGE RESOURCES LTD - down four cents, or 8.08 per cent, to 45.5 cents

Iron ore miner Grange Resources has appointed Richard Mehan as CEO and managing director.

NWS - NEWS CORPORATION LTD - up 19 cents or 0.89 per cent to $21.63

NWSLV - NEWS CORPORATION LTD NON VOTING SHARES - up 25 cents 1.18 per cent to $21.47

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and his group of Australian companies have won a long-running battle with the Australian Taxation Office over more than $2 billion in tax deductions.

RIO - RIO TINTO LTD - down 69 cents or 1.28 per cent to $53.39

Rio Tinto has achieved record first half iron ore production in a result it hopes will offset plunging commodity prices.

STO - SANTOS LTD - up 18 cents or 1.74 per cent to $10.55

Santos has posted an 18 per cent jump in quarterly sales revenue, giving it a financial boost as it develops its costly giant LNG projects.

STG - SINGAPORE TELECOMMUCINATIONS LTD - up 18 cents or 1.74 per cent to $10.55

The competition regulator has approved a deal between NBN Co and SingTel Optus to migrate customers from the telco's cable network to the high-speed national broadband network.

SWM - SEVEN WEST MEDIA LTD - up 4.49 cents or 2.96 per cent to $1.57

Seven West Media has renewed its faith in its print media assets and expects an eventual turnaround in the moribund advertising market as it taps shareholders for $440 million.

SYD - SYDNEY AIRPORT - up 4.5 cents, or 1.49 per cent, at $3.055

Sydney Airport has recorded its best June on record for international and domestic passenger numbers as Singaporeans and Malaysians took advantage of cheap airfares.

TEN - TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LTD - up 3.5 cents, or 7.29 per cent, to 51.5 cents

Broadcaster Ten Network Holdings has agreed to sell its outdoor advertising business, Eye Corp, to Outdoor Media Operations (OMO) for up to $145 million.

TLS - TELSTRA CORPORATION - up 11 cents or 2.86 per cent to $3.95

Australian phone company Telstra may add to the $NZ840 million ($A659.26 million) it will get from the sale of its New Zealand unit by swapping certain spectrum rights with Vodafone New Zealand that could then be on-sold.

TWE - TREASURY WINE ESTATES LTD - up five cents, or 1.11 per cent, to $4.54

Wine maker Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has appointed non-executive director Paul Rayner as chairman and made three other board appointments.

WHC - WHITEHAVEN COAL LTD - up 60 cents or 17.39 per cent to $4.05

Miner Whitehaven Coal's shares shot up 18 per cent on Monday in response to billionaire Nathan Tinkler's high-premium takeover offer.

WBC - WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION - up 80 cents, or 3.63 per cent, at $22.85

Westpac's acting financial services boss Peter Hanlon is to take on a new advisory role with the bank when he steps down from his current job.

WPL - WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD - up $2.49 or 8.22 per cent to $32.79

Woodside Petroleum has upgraded its full year production target, thanks to a stellar start to its giant Pluto liquefied natural gas project (LNG) that helped boost second quarter output by 43 per cent.

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