Stocks to watch on the Australian Stock Exchange today:

AAC – AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY LTD – steady at $1.455
Beef grazier Australian Agricultural Company has downgraded its guidance for the second half of the year due to the rising Australian dollar, and announced a new CEO.

AGK – AGL ENERGY LTD – down seven cents at $13.80
AGL Energy says it has not ruled out bidding for Energy Australia or any other NSW energy assets.

AVG – AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE LTD – down two cents at 32 cents

CBR – CONSTELLATION BRANDS INC – untraded at $1.71
Winemaker Australian Vintage says it is in preliminary talks with US-based Constellation Brands Inc on merging their Australian and UK wine operations.

CCL – COCA COLA AMATIL LTD – down 27 cents at $10.37
Coca-Cola Amatil managing director Terry Davis has extended his tenure at the company by signing a 12 month rolling contract.

RIO – RIO TINTO LTD – down 99 cents at $62.79
Mining giant Rio Tinto has warned that cheap coal from Mongolia and congestion at the Port of Newcastle in NSW could undermine export markets for the Australian commodity.

MYR – MYER HOLDINGS LTD – down 35 cents at $3.75
Timing is everything as Myer Holdings’ new shareholders have learned after shares in Australia’s largest iconic department store tanked 8.5 per cent after it listed on the Australian Securities Exchange

NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD – down 95 cents at $28.90
National Australia Bank has completed the takeover of 80.1 per cent of Goldman Sachs JBWere’s private wealth management business in Australia and New Zealand.

WBC – WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – down 78 cents at $25.59
Investors will be looking to see whether bad debts at Westpac Banking Corporation have peaked when Australia’s second biggest lender reports earnings this week.

QBE – QBE INSURANCE GROUP LTD – down 62 cents at $22.15
QBE Insurance Group has cut back its projected insurance revenue growth because its predominately overseas-based earnings have been adversely affected by the stronger Australian dollar.

NWH – NRW HOLDINGS LTD – down 4.5 cents at $1.595
Contract engineer NRW Holdings Ltd says iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has given it the green light to recommence construction of a rail spur linking its two mines in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

SGP – STOCKLAND – down one cent at $3.76
Property group Stockland has appointed Tim Foster as its new chief financial officer (CFO), replacing Hugh Thorburn, who is retiring.

WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD – up 54 cents at $48.24

ORG – ORIGIN ENERGY LTD – down 11 cents at $15.96
Origin Energy will expand its presence in the east coast energy market by acquiring Woodside Petroleum’s controlling stake in the Otway gas joint venture offshore from Victoria for $712.5 million.