Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 26 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $29.10

RIO – RIO TINTO – up 62 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to $74.28

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – up 2 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $4.90

Iron ore prices edged higher to $US73.90 a tonne.

 

Top Australian Brokers

 

ORG – ORIGIN ENERGY – up 3 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $9.41

OSH – OIL SEARCH – up 13 cents, or 1.7 per cent, to $7.66

STO – SANTOS – up four cents, or 0.8 per cent, to $5.31

WPL – WOODSIDE PETROLEUM – up 12 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $32.73

Brent oil prices rose to the highest level since the summer of 2015 on news that OPEC is working on a plan to exit its supply restriction deal in a gradual manner.

WES – WESFARMERS – down 43 cents, or 1 per cent, to $44.22

Wesfarmers will sell its Queensland Curragh coal mine to US-based Coronado Coal Group for $700 million.