Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Tuesday:
AGO - ATLAS IRON - down 2.00 cents, or 1.84 per cent, at $1.065
Atlas Iron has swung back to profit after doubling revenue and upgrading its production targets.
AVJ - AVJENNINGS - up 2.5 cents, or 4.17 per cent, at 62.5 cents
Home builder AV Jennings is back in the black with a solid half year profit.
BRL - BATHURST RESOURCES - down 5.1 cents, or 36.43 per cent, at 8.9 cents
Coal miner Bathurst Resources is making 29 staff redundant as it rides out the lowest world prices for coking coal in the last nine years and it delays production from its controversial Escarpment open-cut mine near Westport.
CAB - CABCHARGE - up 23 cents, or 5.7 per cent, at $4.26
Taxi payments company Cabcharge says improved economic conditions and the growing popularity of `tap-and-go' card technology contributed to an eight per cent rise in its half year profit.
CHC - CHARTER HALL GROUP - in a trading halt, last traded at $3.94
Property investor Charter Hall has lifted its half year earnings and aims to raise $140 million to pay down debt through the issue of new securities to institutional shareholders.
GNC - GRAINCORP - down 4.00 cents, or 0.51 per cent, at $7.77
GrainCorp expects to make a full year profit of between $80 million and $100 million with recent large harvests offset by poor seasonal conditions in Queensland and NSW.
OSH - OIL SEARCH - in a trading halt, last traded at $8.57
Oil Search has gone into a trading halt ahead of an acquisition announcement.
QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS - up 0.75 cents, or 0.60 per cent, at $1.2475
Qantas is refusing to confirm or deny reports the financially troubled airline will axe up to 5,000 jobs as part of its efforts find $2 billion in savings.
SEPARATELY: Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss says the government is drafting laws to allow Qantas to be majority foreign-owned and remove other limits on the airline.
QBE - QBE INSURANCE - up 46 cents, or 3.95 per cent, at $12.11
Insurer QBE has suffered a $US254 million ($A282.00 million) full year loss due to problems with its North American business.
