Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Thursday, Dec 18:

AMM – AMCOM – up half a cent, or 0.2 per cent, at $2.36

VOC – VOCUS – down 2.5 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $5.71

Telco Vocus is set to increase its standing in the industry with a $653 million takeover of its larger rival Amcom.

BLY – BOART LONGYEAR – down two cents, or 11.1 per cent, at 16 cents

Boart Longyear is asking investors to support a $400 million bailout package for the troubled mining services company after calling a special shareholder meeting.

LAA – LATAM – down 5.5 cents, or 18.3 per cent, at 24.5 cents

Shares in Latin American online auto classified business LatAm Autos have tumbled as the oversubscribed company debuted on the Australian share market.

LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS – in trading halt at $20.95

Leighton Holding’s shares have been placed in a trading halt amid speculation it is about to sell its services business for up to $1 billion.

NRT – NOVOGEN – down five cents, or 30 per cent, at 11.5 cents

Cancer therapy group Novogen hopes to raise $4.1 million from investors in what will be its second capital raising in a month.

OLM – OOH!MEDIA – down three cents, or 1.6 per cent, at $1.90

Billboard advertiser oOh!media has had a weak debut on the share market, with its shares dropping 1.6 per cent.

TEN – TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS – down one cent, or 4.6 per cent, at 21 cents

Struggling TV broadcaster and takeover target Ten Network is hoping for a pick-up in the advertising market this financial year.

TLS – TELSTRA – up four cents, or 0.7 per cent, at $5.76

Telstra is in talks to acquire Pacnet, an operator of undersea cables.

WHC – WHITEHAVEN COAL – up five cents, or 4.4 per cent, at $1.19

Coal has begun leaving the controversial Maules Creek mine in northern NSW, and the operator expects costs at the mine will be lower than originally expected.