Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Tuesday, Feb 24:

BLY – BOART LONGYEAR – up one cent, or five per cent, at 21 cents

Troubled drilling company Boart Longyear halved its full year loss to $US333 million but warns its earnings remain under pressure.

BPT – BEACH ENERGY – down 1.5 cents, or 1.3 per cent, at $1.115

Oil and gas business Beach Energy has suffered a $79 million half year loss after sliding prices hurt revenue and forced it to write down the value of its assets.

BSL – BLUESCOPE STEEL – down 45 cents, or 8.1 per cent, at $5.10

Australia’s biggest steelmaker, BlueScope, has re-introduced dividend payments for shareholders after lifting first half profit and flagging a stronger full year result.

BXB – BRAMBLES – down two cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $10.70

Brambles has reaffirmed its full year profit guidance after the stronger US dollar crimped the company’s first half profit.

CTX – CALTEX AUSTRALIA – down six cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $36.61

Caltex’s underlying full year net profit has leapt 48 per cent to $493 million.

GXL – GREENCROSS – up 72 cents, or 8.5 per cent, at $9.18

The owner of Petbarn and Greencross veterinary clinics lifted its underlying half year profit 81 per cent to $19 million.

LLC – LEND LEASE – up 15 cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $17.00

The housing boom is expected to give a boost to global construction group Lend Lease, which has lifted its first half profit by 25 per cent.

NBL – NON B – steady at 55 cents

Troubled women’s fashion chain Noni B has posted a sharp decline in sales and a half year net loss of $2.4 million.

NHF – NIB HOLDINGS – up one cent, or 0.3 per cent, at $3.68

Health insurer nib has recorded a small increase in half year profit amid heavy competition and rising healthcare costs.

OML – OOH! MEDIA – up three cents, or 1.35 per cent, at $2.25

Newly-listed outdoor advertising group oOh!media has beaten its prospectus forecasts with a pro forma first half loss of $1.9 million.

UGL – UGL – down 11 cents, or 5.6 per cent, at $1.85

Engineering Group UGL has suffered a first half loss due to one-off writedowns and provisions as the slowdown in mining investment continues to bite.

VET – VOCATION – down 12.5 cents, or 50 per cent, at 12.5 cents

Troubled education and training group Vocation is in talks to sell some of its businesses and faces a writedown of up to $245 million.