Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Wednesday:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 52 cents, or 1.54 per cent, at $34.27

Mining giant BHP Billiton has lifted production nine per cent, driven by increasing iron ore, coal and petroleum output.

GEM – G8 EDUCATION – in trading halt, last traded at $5.14

Childcare operator G8 Education is tapping investors for $100 million to help it buy another 20 centres.

ORG – ORIGIN – up 3.00 cents, or 0.21 per cent, at $14.36

Origin will stockpile its gas supplies as it looks to take advantage of expected price rises over the next few years.

SUL – SUPER RETAIL GROUP – up 26 cents, or 3.39 per cent, at $7.92

Shares in Super Retail Group have leapt after the owner of the Rebel sporting goods chain and Supercheap Auto reported solid quarterly sales results.

TLS – TELSTRA – up four cents, or 0.74 per cent, at $5.46

Fixed-line telephone customers won’t pay more if Telstra is allowed to charge competitors what it wants to access their copper lines, the company’s boss says.

WOW – WOOLWORTHS – up 7.00 cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $34.80

Retail giant Woolworths has rejected reports suggesting it is considering selling its Big W chain.