Stocks to watch: CEN, FPA, NEW, NZE, PRC, TEL

Stocks to watch: CEN, FPA, NEW, NZE, PRC, TEL

Nov. 1 (BusinessDesk) – The following stocks may be active on the New Zealand exchange after developments since the close of trading. All prices are in New Zealand dollars unless specified.

Themes of the day: Global stocks gained as manufacturing data from the U.S., China and India beat expectations, providing optimism about the pace of global economic growth. In late afternoon trade on Wall Street, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.1% to 1,184.38.

In Europe, the Stoxx 600 gained 0.2% to 266.4 at the close. Data showed manufacturing in the U.S. grew at the fastest pace in five months in October, in China the purchasing managers’ index rose to 54.7 last month from 53.8, and HSBC Markit PMI for India rose to 57.2 in October from 55.1 in September.

The New Zealand dollar touched a 27-month high overnight before paring gains as the latest ANZ Commodity Price Index showed further strength in October, led by rising wool prices. The kiwi slipped to 76.47 U.S. cents from 79.59 cents yesterday.

Contact Energy Ltd. (CEN): The utility company won draft approval for its 250 Megawatt Tauhara geothermal power station project yesterday under the new Environmental Protection Authority. The new plant will be the largest constructed for many years, and is likely to be built before the 220MW Te Mihi power station, in the Wairakei geothermal steamfield, for which Contact also holds resource consents. Shares rose 1% to $5.91.

Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings (FPA): The whiteware maker confirmed the sale of a substantial piece of its Cleveland site in Australia for A$21.5 million ($28.1 million). As part of the arrangement the company will lease back part of the site for its Queensland operations. The proceeds of the sales, which are expected to net A$19.1 million ($25.0 million) after tax, will be used to reduce bank debt. Shares were unchanged yesterday at 60 cents.

New Image Group (NEW): The health and wellness products manufacturer has acquired a 50% stake in New Zealand natural skincare company Living Nature. The purchase will see new capital issued and its existing shareholders remain. The purchase price was not disclosed, but New Image chairman Graeme Clegg said Living Nature will add $6 million to its annual revenue. Shares were unchanged yesterday at 30 cents.

New Zealand Experience Ltd. (NZE): The company, which operates the Rainbow's End theme park, said it expects net profit for the year to June 2011 to be in the range of $1.3 million to $1.5 million, due to improved EBITDA. This compares to the $1.5 million reported in the year to June 30, which included several non-recurring items. Shares were unchanged yesterday at 33 cents.

Pike River Coal Ltd. (PRC): The coal miner is forecast to report an EBITDA of $181 million in 2012 and $237 million the following year as its hydro coal mining comes on line, according to Craigs Investment Partners, quoted on the ShareChat website. The assumption is based on a steady-state production rate of 920,000 tonnes a year. Shares fell 1% yesterday to $1.03.

Telecom Corp. (TEL): The company’s first quarter results, due Friday, are likely to be overshadowed by the prospect of electricity lines companies winning some of the ultrafast broadband contracts, according to Craigs Investment Partners analyst Geoff Zame, quoted on Stuff.co.nz. Crown Fibre Holdings missed Sunday's deadline to make recommendations to Ministers on who should be awarded the first contract, and said it will do so shortly. Shares were unchanged yesterday at 2.05.

(BusinessDesk) 09:45:46

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