Trading was halted yesterday shortly before the Australian Securities Exchange closed.

AWB securities will remain in pre-open until it makes the announcement or until the start of normal trading tomorrow.

While many analysts expected an announcement from the wheat exporting giant today, at close of business none had been forthcoming.

The poor performance of the company's Brazilian operations, the drought and falling demand caused by the economic crisis were blamed for AWB's poor first-half profit, which fell by 61.6 per cent to $8.54 million.

AWB Brazil, set up three years ago, employs between 80 and 100 people.

AWB shares closed fractionally higher at $1.20.