Spectacular Gains By Orica, James Hardie and Macquarie Prologue

Other than Karoon Gas, other top performers on the Australian sharemarket were: Orica closing the week at $33.90 gaining $6.91 or 25.6 percent to their value (winner of the week on the ASX100 and ASX200 indexes for week 15); James Hardie was the next best performer on the ASX100 with a 10.6 percent or 89 cents closing at $9.30. The next best performer after Orica on the ASX200 index was Macquarie Prologue closing the trading week at $1.42 or increasing their share price by 14 cents or 11 percent.

Orica Limited is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) under stock code ORI. ORI was listed on the ASX on 28 November, 1961. Orica is the world's leading supplier of commercial explosives and is also the largest chemical company in Australia and New Zealand. It manufactures and supplies commercial explosives, industrial and specialty chemicals, decorative paints, and plastics. Orica has significant operations in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, North and Latin America. Orica Mining Services offers commercial explosives, initiating systems and Blast-Based Services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries. The business is run globally with a presence in Australia, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Latin America. Orica Consumer Products is Australia and New Zealand’s leader in decorative, preparation, and lawn and garden care products. The business manufactures and markets icon brands including Dulux, Berger, British Paints, Levene, Walpamur, Cabot’s, Feast Watson, Intergrain, Acratex, Selleys, Rota Cota, Poly, Turtle Wax, Yates, Thrive, Zero and Dynamic Lifter in Australia and New Zealand. Chemnet is Australasia’s leading trading and distribution solutions business, servicing more than 40 key industries. The business is based in Australia and operates in New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Peru and Chile. Chemical Services is a major supplier of chemicals, services and technology to the water treatment, mining chemical and industrial chemical markets. The business is based in Australia and has operations in the United States and the United Kingdom. Donald Mercer is the Chairman of Orica and Graeme Liebelt is the CEO. James Hardie Industries N.V. is listed on the Australian sahremarket under JHX. James Hardie underwent a corporate restructure and redomiciled in the Netherlands in the second half of 2001. The company's securities ceased trading under the ASX code 'HAH' on 12 October 2001 and commenced trading under a new ASX code 'JHX' on 15 October 2004. For any market announcement in relation to James Hardie Industries Limited prior to 19 October 2001, please use the ASX code 'HAH'. JHX is involved in the research, development, manufacture, sale and marketing of fibre cement building materials.