Centro Retail (ASX:CER) has decided to purchase Centro Properties Group (ASX:CNP) as it looks to consolidate its assets.

The new group will be called Centro Retail Australia, and is forecast to deliver an FY12 distribution yield of approximately 5%.

CER said the consolidated entity is likely to have the size and scale to enhance long-term value and moderate gearing levels.

The takeover announcement has seen CNP rocket almost 60% so far today, making it one the top performers in the stock market.

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Sigma Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SIP) is a manufacturer and marketer of prescription, over-the-counter, and generic pharmaceutical products. It is also the owner of a leading full-line wholesale and distribution business to pharmacies.

Today SIP reported a 1H12 net profit of $26.7 million, which compares to a net loss of $9.2 million a year earlier.

SIP’s strong cash flow generation put a major dent in net interest expense, which was a key driver of the profit result.

EBIT jumped 55% on-year, helped by a 9% lift in underlying revenue.  The healthy sales result reflected market share gains.

An interim dividend of 1.5 cents was declared.  SIP said more would be done in the coming year to keep it ahead of industry changes.

SIP has been one of today’s best performers in the Australian share market.  It has also been one of the top stocks in recent months, having more than doubled in price since March.

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QR National (ASX:QRN) is Australia’s largest rail freight operator and the world’s largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port for export markets.

The group generated significant interest when it floated in November 2010, and it has since been one of the top stocks, having surged almost 30% to date.

Today, QRN announced that it signed a $900 million agreement to construct a rail link to the Wiggins Island coal export terminal.

The project would support an initial 27 million tonnes of coal per annum to the Wiggins Island terminal.

Construction is due to begin early next year, with expected completion by March 2015.

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Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU) is a gold explorer, focused on under-explored gold belts in West Africa.

The group’s Central Ashanti Gold Project has reserves of 3.3 million ounces (Moz) of gold, plus 1.5 Moz Measured and Indicated gold resources and 1.9 Moz Inferred gold resources.

A further 570,000 ounces of indicated gold resources and 1.21 Moz inferred gold resources are held on PRU’s West African projects, Grumesa and Tengrela.

The two projects (Central Ashanti Gold and Tengrela) aim to put out 670,000 oz per year once at full production, which would make PRU Australia’s second-largest listed miner by production after Newcrest Mining.

Further mineral resource and reserves upgrades are planned for later this year.

The miner recently completed its first gold pour during commissioning at the Central Ashanti Gold Project.

Though PRU is currently an explorer, the company is on track to become a producer.

PRU’s aim is to become a 400,000 ounce per annum gold producer from 2013, and the company is on target to achieve this following its consistent over-delivery on targets.

PRU is looking promising owing to its exposure to the under-explored gold belts in West Africa and on strength in gold prices.

Operational update

Following a recent updated economic analysis incorporating a revised life of mine plan (LOMP), PRU has planned throughput optimisation upgrades over the next 18 months.

Under the upgrade, average process throughput will increase from 5.5 Mtpa to 7.9 Mtpa.

Average annual gold production is set to increase by 38% to approximately 265,000oz.

Cash costs will drop to US$551/oz with a base case gold price of US$1,150/oz.

As a result, PRU’s EBITDA over the life of the project has increased by 127% to $1.56 billion.

The early start up of the Central Ashanti Gold Project could push the gold miner’s EBITDA up to US$300 million a year in 2013 and 2014.

Of course, the company will continue to lose money until it starts producing, although it has ample funding facilities to pursue its exploration activities and mine development plans.

Looking ahead

Perseus Mining is turning market heads over its consistent over-delivery on targets. The group is also in good financial stead, with approximately US$100 million cash.

Though PRU’s recent financial results are nothing to write home about, this is typical of a company in its emerging stages.

PRU is looking promising owing to its exposure to the under-explored gold belts in West Africa and on strength in gold prices.

The group will continue to expand its gold resources through rapid exploration of existing tenements and the acquisition of prospective new projects, while developing the Central Ashanti Gold Project.

Gold has gained significant ground this year, consistently reaching fresh record highs.

However, the precious metal saw a pullback late last week but is still in a good position to register further gains.

The metal printed highs of around US$1900 early last week and continues to hold its ground well above US$1800.

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WorleyParsons (ASX:WOR) provides professional engineering and management services to the energy, resource and complex process industries.

It offers a broad scope of services, from feasibility studies to design and project services, and is exposed to a number of sectors.

Today, WOR reported a 25% lift in FY11 net profit to $364.2 million, although its underlying result of $298.5 million missed analyst estimates.

WOR was able to grow its earnings despite the impact of the soaring AUD and turmoil in the Middle East.

The group was forecasting good underlying profit growth in FY12, continuing the momentum displayed in the 2H11.

A final dividend of 50 cents was declared.

WOR has been one of the hot stocks in today’s trade, with its almost 10% gain far outpacing the Australian share market.

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Monadelphous Group (ASX:MND) is a leading engineering group providing extensive engineering construction, maintenance and industrial services to the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Today MND reported an FY11 net profit of $95.1 million, up 14.2% on-year and beating analyst estimates.  A final dividend of 55 cents was declared.

Sales revenue was grew 13.2%, with all of MND’s divisions contributing to the result amid healthy demand from the resources and energy markets.

Monadelphous Group was bullish about the longer-term outlook, with record levels of capital investment in the mining industry expected over the next few years.

The optimistic forecast has sparked MND, which has been one of the best shares today.

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Brambles (ASX:BXB) is a leading global provider of support services and is involved in pallet and container pooling services. Pallets are the (usually) wooden frames that goods are stacked on for transport.

Today, BXB reported a 17% lift in FY11 underlying profit to US$857 million.  Revenue grew 13% on the back of net new business across all of BXB’s key markets.

BXB forecast an FY12 underlying profit of US$1,040 to US$1,100 million, although the guidance was subject to economic uncertainty.

The group also declared a final dividend of 13 cents.

BXB has been one the best performing shares in the Australian stock market on the back of today’s profit result.

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Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) is the biggest Australian gold producer on the share market, with mining and exploration projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Indonesia and the US.

Gold remains in high demand due to a volatile US dollar and economic uncertainty, and as a result NCM has been one of the best stocks in the past few months.

Today, NCM reported a 63% surge in FY11 net profit to $908 million, driven mainly by surging gold prices and the production jump from its Lihir acquisition.

A final unfranked dividend of 20 cents was declared, in addition to a special unfranked dividend of 20 cents.

Underlying profit was up 36% on-year to $1.06 billion, coming in slightly ahead of analyst estimates.

NCM grew its FY11 output 43% to 2.5 million ounces of gold, and forecast FY12 production of 2.775 million – 2.925 million ounces.

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Kathmandu (ASX:KMD) is a clothing and equipment provider for the travel and adventure market.

Today, KMD reported a 24.5% increase in sales for the FY11, defying what has generally been a gloomy year for retailers.

Kathmandu faced tough trading conditions, but was able to grow sales due to better inventory management, favourable weather patterns and healthy results from its new stores.

KMD has been one of the hot stocks in what has otherwise been a bearish day for the Australian share market.

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Eastern Star Gas (ASX:ESG) is focused on the exploration and development of coal seam gas (CSG) in Northern NSW for the Eastern Australian and potentially international LNG markets.

On 18 July, ESG accepted a $730 million takeover offer from Santos (STO).

The all-share offer values ESG at 90 cents, which represents a 51% premium to ESG’s closing price on Friday.

As part of the deal, STO has also agreed to sell a 20% interest in ESG’s Gunnedah permits to TRUenergy for $284 million.

ESG shares flew 41.2% on the day, making one of the best performers on the Australian share market.

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