Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Monday, Feb 16:

AHE – AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS – up eight cents, or 2.2 per cent, at $3.79

Australia’s largest car and truck retailer has lifted its half year profit 17 per cent and expects a further boost from low interest rates and fuel prices.

NCM – NEWCREST MINING – down one cent, or 0.1 per cent, at $13.90

Australia’s largest gold miner Newcrest has recorded a small decline in half year underlying profit and again declined to pay a dividend.

RIO – RIO TINTO – up $3.89, or 6.5 per cent, at $63.79

Rio Tinto will spend $US2 billion buying back its own shares and has increased its dividend despite a year marked by falling earnings.

SGM – SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT – up $1.13, or 10.6 per cent, at $11.75

Sims Metal Management is on track to achieve its plan to more than quadruple earnings within five years after lifting its half year profit 53 per cent.

TAH – TABCORP – up five cents, or one per cent, at $4.89

TTS – TATTS – up eight cents, or 2.1 per cent, at $3.95

Gambling operators Tabcorp and Tatts Group have lost their legal battle against the Victorian state government over a levy imposed on the their former poker machine operations.