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

AGO — ATLAS IRON — down 0.5 cents, or 2.4 per cent, at 20 cents

Junior miner Atlas Iron will continue to aggressively cut costs after iron ore price falls forced it into the red with a $1 billion loss.

AHY — ASALEO CARE — up 3.5 cents, or two per cent, at $1.825

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Hygiene products maker Asaleo Care has forecast low to mid single digit growth after its full year earnings beat prospectus forecasts.

BCI — BC IRON — down 3.5 cents, or 6.6 per cent, at 49.5 cents

Falling iron ore prices and production issues have sent Pilbara ore miner BC Iron to a $97 million half year loss.

BHP — BHP BILLITON — up 94 cents, or 2.9 per cent, at $33.06

Mining giant BHP Billiton’s half year net profit has dived by 47.4 per cent to $US4.3 billion ($A5.52 billion) after a period of plummeting iron ore prices.

BRG — BREVILLE — down one cent, or 0.1 per cent, at $6.98

Breville shares have dropped seven per cent after a slide in the kitchen appliance maker’s half year profit.

FLT — FLIGHT CENTRE — up $4.25, or 12 per cent, at $39.50

Flight Centre has reaffirmed its full year guidance after a 9.5 per cent slide in its first half profit.

HIL — HIILS — down 43 cents, or 32.3 per cent, at 90 cents

Technology specialist Hills’ share price plummeted after it suffered a sharp half year profit drop and forecast a slowing economy hitting its core business.

HSO — HEALTHSCOPE — up x cents, or 1.25 per cent, at $2.835

Hospitals operator Healthscope has recorded a first half net profit of $58.6 million and re-affirmed its full year guidance.

MJP — MARTIN AIRCRAFT — up four cents, or 10 per cent, at 44 cents

New Zealand-based jetpack maker Martin Aircraft’s shares have soared during their debut on the Australian stock market.

OSH — OIL SEARCH — up one cent, or 0.1 per cent, at $8.29

A near tripling of production has helped Oil Search achieve a 72 per cent rise in annual profit, even with a massive charge related to falling oil prices.

PFL — PATTIES FOODS — down 3.5 cents, or 2.8 per cent, at $1.215

The owner of Nanna’s Frozen Berries is waiting for test results before deciding whether to switch suppliers.

PPX — PAPERLINX — down 0.2 cents, or 10.5 per cent, at 1.7 cents

PaperlinX has been quick to replace its sacked chief executive Andrew Price, announcing the appointment of Andy Preece to the top job.

QBE — QBE INSURANCE GROUP — up 84 cents, or 7.2 per cent, at $12.45

Insurance giant QBE is confident it has finally turned the corner after lifting its full year profit by more than $1 billion.

REX — REGIONAL EXPRESS — down 9.5 cents, or 8.8 per cent, at 98 cents

Airline operator Regional Express has warned that the sharp slide in oil prices could hurt passenger numbers on some routes but it’s moderately positive about its outlook.

SCG — SCENTRE GROUP — down two cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $3.77

The owner of Westfield’s Australian and New Zealand shopping centres expects to lift its financial performance and payouts to shareholders in 2015.

SFH — SPECIALTY FASHION GROUP — down three cents, or 4.3 per cent, at 67 cents

Retail group Specialty Fashion suffered a 64 per cent half year profit slide as its recently acquired Rivers stores bled from discounting.

VRL — VILLAGE ROADSHOW — down 51 cents, or eight per cent, at $5.87

Bad weather and a lack of blockbuster movies have dented profits at theme parks and cinema operator Village Roadshow.

VRT — VIRTUS HEALTH — down 22 cents, or 2.8 per cent, at $7.59

Fertility company Virtus Health has maintained its full year guidance while reporting a slight fall in half year net profit.

2015 AAP

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