Asciano is transport infrastructure and operations company, formed from a de-merger from Toll Holdings in June 2007.

Asciano Fails To Reach Agreement To MUA

Asciano announced that it has been unable to reach an agreement with the Maritime Union of Australia over a new workplace agreement for container terminal employees.

This is the third time the parties have failed to reach an agreement via a conciliation process involving workplace umpire Fair Work Australia.

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The group said that local agreements have been struck with employees at Melbourne and Brisbane ports, except on a national dispute resolution procedure clause

Asciano is transport infrastructure and operations company formed from a de-merger from Toll Holdings in June 2007.

Asciano (AIO)Demerger From Toll Holdings

Industrial stock Asciano announced a 1H FY12 profit of $113.2 million, a 10.2% fall on the previous corresponding period.

Revenue climbed 8.9% for the half to $1.7 billion, while EBIT was also up a similar amount.

The group said that based on new contracts commencing in FY12, it expects second half EBIT to be higher than the previous corresponding period and the first half result.

The company said that it will pay an interim dividend of 3.5 cents a share, up 16.7% from the last year’s interim payment.

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At the start of a new year traders and investors alike invariably look to the potential that the new horizon brings.

After a tumultuous 2011, this year that sentiment is even more pronounced as market participants put the last 12-months in their rear-view and look to better times ahead.

At Australian Stock Report we don’t particularly care for long dated predictions about the market as a whole – too much can change too quickly.

We are prepared however, to outline a few stocks that will make for interesting reading in 2012.

Below is a list of stocks to watch in 2012 and a brief outline as to why we think so.

QR National (ASX:QRN) / Asciano (ASX:AIO) – Both companies operate in the transportation industry and are highly leveraged to the mining sector. While they are in competition with each other, both can prosper with the mining boom likely to drive industry revenue. QRN and AIO are likely to experience strong growth from the Queensland area as the state’s coal output moves back into full swing after last year’s floods caused havoc with production.

ANZ (ASX:ANZ) – Our bank of choice is ANZ. While we can’t see an extreme decoupling in price between the big four over the next year, ANZ is our preferred exposure to this sector. ANZ has the second lowest P/E based on current earnings and has a dividend yield approaching 7%, which should provide some support for the stock at this level. The company also has the most exposure to the growing Asian region and one of the lowest exposures to the slowing domestic residential market.

BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) / Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) – These mining giants are poised for growth in 2012. Both companies were weighed down last year as the market factored in the effects of a possible hard landing in China. It is becoming more evident however, that any slowdown in the Chinese economy will be akin to a soft landing instead. The other factor that could buoy the mining giants is increased commodity prices due to the likely introduction of further monetary stimulus by the US Federal Reserve.

WorleyParsons (ASX:WOR) – Worley’s provides professional engineering and management services to the energy, resources and complex process industries. The company has significant leverage to the energy sector, specifically through its hydrocarbons (compounds founds in crude oil) division. The company will benefit from any oil supply/demand imbalance that drives up prices. Indeed, some analysts are predicting the price of oil will increase dramatically due to the political unrest in the Middle East. Higher oil prices will encourage the big oil companies to ramp up capital expenditure to the benefit of WOR. The company also has demonstrated an ability to land contracts with the major oil players, evidenced by its recent contract win for the Chevron project in Indonesia.

Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX:SAR) – On the smaller side of the market, Saracen is a mid-tier WA gold producer that was added to the S&P/ASX 200 on the 28^th of December, 2011. This company has forecast gold production of between 120,000 -130,000 ounces of gold a year, which was reaffirmed in a recent update. Saracen is also trying to expand its business with $35 million of capital expenditure planned for the current financial year. The capital expenditure is substantial for a company of SAR’s size, but a strong net cash position of $58 million significantly reduces the funding risk.

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Asciano (ASX:AIO) is transport infrastructure and operations company formed from a de-merger from Toll Holdings in June 2007 and joined the ASX 200 soon after.

Today, Asciano released its FY12 September quarter update, saying that it has performed well in uncertain economic times.

However CEO John Mullen did warn global economic conditions were difficult and unpredictable at present, and refrained from releasing specific guidance for the remainder of the FY12.

AIO reported coal volumes fell 9% in the September quarter, amid reduced export demand and delivery issues.

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Australian Stock News – Asciano Group (AIO)  11 May 2010

Australian Stock Asciano Group (AIO) is a leading transport infrastructure company, operating infrastructure assets, ports and rails across Australia.

AIO has advised that it will book around $1.1 billion in non-cash impairment charges across its businesses in 2H10.

The divisions that would be affected by the write-down include AIO’s Patrick and container ports businesses, the general stevedoring division, and the automotive business.

AIO maintained that despite the impairment charge, operating earnings for FY10 are still expected to be at the upper end of between $675 and $700 million.

AIO ASX share price performed strongly since mid-February 2009, pulling back more recently to the $1.60 level.

Asciano Group (AIO) is Australia’s leading transport and infrastructure company which owns and operates ports and rails across Australia.

AIO secured a long-term rail contract with freight company Sadleirs Transport.

The deal is expected to generate over $150 million in revenue for AIO over a seven year period.

The two companies already have an existing relationship, and the current deal is an extension of their arrangement.

The Australian share price for AIO finished the day up 1.6% on the news.

A steadily rising share price over the last two months would have reflected a fantastic share to buy.

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