Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Friday:

BHP - BHP BILLITON LTD - up 40 cents at $34.30

FRS - FERRAUS LTD - up 2.5 cents at 50.5 cents

MTH - MITHRIL RESOURCES LTD - down one cent at 14 cents

BHP Billiton and Mithril Resources have withdrawn from the Silver Swan North nickel and gold joint venture, with full ownership of the project reverting to FerrAus.

NHF - NIB HOLDINGS LTD - up 3.5 cents at 92 cents

Private health care fund NIB Holdings says policyholders number grew by more than expected in 2008/09, and that it expect economic conditions be difficult in the new financial year.

STO - SANTOS LTD - down four cents at $14.39

ESG - EASTERN STAR GAS LTD - down 1.5 cents at 80.5

Santos has taken a large stake in NSW-based coal seam gas (CSG) explorer and producer Eastern Star Gas but has ruled out a takeover.

RIO - RIO TINTO LTD - up 15 cents at $51.75

Dual-listed miner Rio Tinto has successfully completed the UK leg of its $US15.2 billion ($A18.78 billion) equity raising after its largest shareholder, Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco), took up its full entitlement. The last remaining shares offered in the UK rights issue were sold off by two brokers, Rio said on Friday.

NAB - NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD - up 16 cents at $21.85

National Australia Bank has seen a ten per cent rise in customers using its automatic teller machines (ATM) since the new ATM fee regime was introduced.

BOQ - BANK OF QUEENSLAND LTD - up ten cents at $9.01

Bank of Queensland has raised $750 million in an government-guaranteed domestic bond issue that was three times oversubscribed from the $500 million sought originally.

WBC - WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION - down ten cents at $19.58

Westpac has scrapped its retail shareholder benefits package due to increasing administration costs and a very low take-up of the benefits on offer.

PLB - PLAN B GROUP HOLDINGS LTD - steady at 50 cents

Wealth management firm Plan B Group has acquired mortgage broker Aspire Finance (WA) Pty Ltd through a combination of debt and equity.

BEN - BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LTD - up ten cents at $6.94

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's new chief executive, Mike Hirst, takes up his role on Friday.

WBA - WEBSTER LTD - down 3.5 cents at 56.5 cents

Walnut and vegetable producer Webster has appointed David West as its chief executive, commencing August 3.