Stocks to watch at close on Tuesday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Tuesday:

PPX - PAPERLINX - up 0.1 of a cent, or 2.3 per cent, at 4.4 cents

Paper merchant and packaging supplier PaperlinX will cut 75 jobs in Germany and 65 in the United Kingdom as the group continues to restructure its operations.

RIO - RIO TINTO - down six cents, or 0.09 per cent, at $66.84

Rio Tinto could dump its 19.1 per cent stake in a proposed copper and gold mine in Alaska that has been opposed by the local community and several of Rio Tinto's shareholders.

TCL - TRANSURBAN - up six cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $6.86

Transurban is close to completing the purchase of $475 million of debt held by Sydney's Cross City Tunnel.

WCB - WARRNAMBOOL CHEESE AND BUTTER - steady at $9.25

Canadian dairy firm Saputo has increased its stake in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter to almost 18 per cent.

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Vic shoppers battle last-minute crowds

LEGO and Barbie have been selling for more than 100 years between them but are still among the most sought-after Christmas gifts in Victoria this festive season.

Shoppers leaving it late had to battle big crowds throughout the state, with around seven per cent of Victorians buying last minute presents on Christmas Eve, the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) says.

More than $1.46 billion will be spent nationwide in the two days before Christmas, with Victorians stumping up around $233 million on presents alone.

David Jones regional manager Lyn James said despite continuing growth in online shopping, many Victorians still preferred to visit retail stores and purchase gifts personally.

"People love the stores and the experience of being able to touch and feel what they want to buy," Ms James said on Tuesday.

"The trend is definitely around the very last minute," she said.

"This Christmas for children it has been about Lego and Barbie," Ms James said when asked about top selling items.

For adults, it's all about smelling good this festive season with perfumes and cologne among the top stocking stuffers.

Retailers are predicting about $29.6 billion in sales across the Christmas period, a jump of 5.4 per cent on 2012.

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Alleged Hells Angel charged over drug haul

AN alleged Hells Angels bikie has been charged after a police raid uncovered crystal methylamphetamine with a street value of $42,000.

Police also seized $1190 in cash and a small amount of cannabis during the search of a home at Brassall, in Ipswich.

A 30-year-old Brassall man has been charged with two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug paraphernalia and possession of explosives (ammunition and fireworks).

He will face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

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NZ shares rally with 'bargain-hunting'

NEW Zealand shares have rallied as offshore investors saw value in a market that has lagged global peers in recent days.

The NZX 50 Index rose 41.444 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 4722.635 on Monday. Within the index, 33 stocks rose, 11 fell and six were unchanged. Turnover was $93 million.

A2 Corp led gainers, rising 6.7 per cent to 80 cents.

Hallenstein Glasson Holdings rose 4.5 per cent to $3.70, leading some retailers higher after Paymark said spending in the first three weeks of December was 6.9 per cent up on the same period last year, suggesting retailers may be in for a strong Christmas.

Michael Hill International rose 3.7 per cent to $1.41 and Kathmandu rose about three per cent to $3.48. Warehouse Group slipped 0.5 per cent to $3.65.

Among market heavyweights, Fletcher Building rose 1.8 per cent to $8.54 and Telecom rose 1.3 per cent to $2.34. Auckland International Airport gained two per cent to $3.55.

"There's been a few people looking to pick up a bargain," said Greg Easton, an adviser at Craigs Investment Partners.

"We've lagged the rest of the world."

Guinness Peat Group fell 1.7 per cent to 58.5 cents after saying the UK Pensions Regulator had issued warning notices over two of its pension plans.

Chorus, the network operator, fell 1.4 per cent to $1.445.

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Stocks to watch at close on Monday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Monday:

AIO - ASCIANO - up 3.00 cents, or 0.53 per cent, at $5.70

TOL - TOLL HOLDINGS - up 5.00 cents, or 0.91 per cent, at $5.57

Transport group Toll will provide Asciano with at least 90 per cent of its Queensland rail freight volumes from next year in a new 13-year deal between the companies.

EGP - ECHO ENTERTAINMENT - up 14 cents, or 6.09 per cent, at $2.44

The managing director of Sydney casino The Star has resigned to take a job overseas.

GFF - GOODMAN FIELDER - up 1.5 cents, or 2.31 per cent, at 66.5 cents

Food producer Goodman Fielder is selling its biscuits business in Australia to Green's Foods, generating proceeds of $17 million.

JFX - JAMES HARDIE - down 1.00 cents, or 0.08 per cent, at $12.55

Building products maker James Hardie Industries and the New Zealand Ministry of Education have reached a confidential settlement over leaky school buildings.

LEI - LEIGHTON HOLDINGS - up 67 cents, or 4.36 per cent, at $16.04

Leighton Holdings-owned Thiess has won a $230 million, one-year contract extension at Glencore Xstrata's Mt Owen Coal Mine in the NSW Hunter Valley.

NCM - NEWCREST MINING - down 16 cents, or 2.08 per cent, at $7.54

Australia's largest gold miner is facing a class action from shareholders over its massive financial writedown.

NHF - NIB HOLDINGS - up 6.00 cents, or 2.46 per cent, at $2.50

Health insurer nib is lifting its premiums by an average of almost eight per cent.

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Goodman Fielder sells biscuits business

FOOD producer Goodman Fielder is selling its biscuits business in Australia to Green's Foods, generating proceeds of $17 million.

But the company will record a non-cash impairment of between $50 million and $55 million in its half year accounts as a result of the sale.

The business produces sweet and savoury biscuits, with brands including Paradise, Cottage, Vive and Veri Deli.

Goodman Fielder chief executive Chris Delaney said the transaction was consistent with the company's strategy of focusing on core categories and brands.

Goodman Fielder also produces spreads, flour and dressings, with brands including MeadowLea, Olive Grove and White Wings.

"The biscuits business is not core to our grocery division, and we formed the view that this business can maximise its potential under different ownership," Mr Delaney said.

Green's, which is Australian-owned and operated, said the acquisition would secure the jobs of more than 300 employees.

It said the acquisition of Goodman Fielder's biscuits business would make Green's the second largest Australian-based biscuit manufacturer and the largest Australian-owned biscuit company.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of February 2014.

Shares in Goodman Fielder were 1.5 cents higher at 66.5 cents on Monday.

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Iraqi general among 24 killed in attack

Twenty-four Iraqi military personnel have been killed in an attack in western Iraq. Source: AAP

TWENTY-FOUR Iraqi military personnel, including a senior commander, have been killed in an attack in western Iraq, according to police.

A series of back-to-back bombings on Saturday occurred as troops were raiding a hideout of insurgents with suspected links to al-Qaeda in Anbar, west of Baghdad.

The senior officer killed was identified as Major-General Mohammed al-Karawi, the commander of the Iraqi army's Seventh Division.

The dead also included intelligence officers, police said.

At least 35 soldiers were wounded in the attack, which prompted the authorities to put security forces on heightened alert in the mainly Sunni province, media reports said.

Military reinforcements have been sent to Anbar in preparation for the launch of a large-scale campaign in the area, reports said.

In the aftermath of the attack, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed an "iron-fist" policy to tackle the insurgents.

"I call on personnel of our brave army to strike with an iron fist against the heads of the evil minority, and pursue them everywhere until Iraq is purged of their wickedness," he said.

An increase in attacks by insurgents in recent months has raised the prospect of a return to the violence that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

According to UN estimates, 659 people were killed in attacks in Iraq in November.

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Hot air balloon lands in Melbourne carpark

THE pilot of a hot air balloon has been praised for his emergency landing in a Melbourne carpark without any of the 10 people aboard being injured.

The balloon came down in the carpark of an apartment building in the inner suburb of Balaclava on Sunday morning.

Everyone walked out of the balloon without a cut or scratch.

Victoria Police Sergeant Barney Wursthorn said the successful emergency landing was a testament to the pilot's skills.

"He's pretty much put the basket down where he wanted to and chosen a parking spot here in the carpark," he told reporters at the scene.

"It's quite a good effort by the pilot."

He said the pilot had to make a controlled landing after having problems with the wind.

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Man critical after CBD assault

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

A MAN has come forward over a bashing in Brisbane CBD overnight, which left another man with critical injuries.

A man voluntarily attended Petrie police station a short time ago and is currently speaking with detectives.

The other man is still in hospital in a critical condition with life threatening injuries.

EARLIER, police relased CCTV images of a man as part of ongoing investigations into the serious assault of a man in Brisbane's CBD.

Police are searching for a man who intervened in a couple's fight, seriously injuring a 38-year-old man in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The couple were arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street around 4am when an unidentified man stepped in, seriously injuring the 38-year-old.

Brisbane region detective inspector Ian Park said the partner of the injured Arana Hills man was by his bedside in hospital.

"She's very upset obviously by what's happened," he said.

He said the man today remained in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition with serious injuries after being resuscitated at the scene.

Insp Park said alcohol may have been a factor.

"I guess it's a fair assumption that at 4 o'clock there is going to be alcohol involved, so we would appeal to people to just be careful with alcohol and look after themselves and each other and not to drink to excessive levels, which is always a deadly cocktail."

There were reports that people performed CPR on the man before paramedics arrived.

Alessandro Vosolo, who is staying on the 44th floor of the building, said the fight sounded violent and lasted less than four minutes.

"Fighting, screaming, arguing like guys getting thrown around, that sort of thing," he said.

One witness said he was on the 20th floor of the hotel and heard the fight.

"A dude got beat up... We heard it but then police rocked up."

Police insp Park said a number of witnesses had already been interviewed but appealed for more people to step forward, particularly the man, understood to be Caucasian and in his 30s, who was involved in the fight.

The injured man was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition.

"Initial information suggests that a man and a woman were seen arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street when another man intervened just before 4am," police said in a statement.

Police said the two men were then involved in a fight in which a 38-year-old Arana Hills man sustained a serious head injury.

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Detective inspector Ian Park said police were also investigating the assault of a man who got into a fight with a hotel staff member at the Orient about 4.30am.

A 37-year-old man fell down the stairs and suffered serious head injuries when his head hit the concrete pavement.

"I believe the may have been a disagreement between this person and a staff member but as to what actually took place is subject to investigation," Insp Park said.

The man was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he is in a serious condition.

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In a third incident, a man was allegedly glassed in the face at the Family Nightclub on McLachlan St in the Fortitude Valley about 3am Sunday.

Police said a 19-year-old was struck in the face with a glass, receiving cuts to his cheek area. Police said the man did not have life-threatening injuries.

A spokesman said security staff and patrons stopped the alleged attacker and held him until police arrived.

A 20-year-old Calamvale man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning.

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Vic teenagers bash man, steal car: police

A GANG of teenagers attacked and robbed a Melbourne man in the hallway of his residential care home before they fled with his car, police say.

The teenagers, aged 14 to 17, had been driving for hours towards the NSW border when they were finally stopped about 250km from the man's home, a police spokeswoman said.

Two of them jumped out of the car and fled into the bushes, only to be flushed out by the dog squad about an hour later.

The teens, who are still being questioned, are accused of assaulting the 47-year-old man in Dandenong around 1am (AEDT) on Saturday.

The man had to be taken to hospital following the attack, where he had his personal belongings and car stolen.

Police later spotted the car north of Melbourne near Kilmore, but had to call off a pursuit when it failed to pull over and kept driving on the wrong side of the highway.

The car ran over a spike belt around 5.30am near Winton.

The two girls and three boys were arrested at the scene but have not yet been charged.

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