Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Tuesday:

QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS LTD – down two cents, or 1.2 per cent, at $1.64

Negotiations between Qantas and two unions representing its workers have broken down and talks with a third union are stalling.

BIS – BISALLOY STEEL GROUP Ltd – up 2.5 cent, or 11.63 per cent, at 24 cents

Steel plate supplier Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd expects earnings in the current financial year to rise up to 50 per cent.

BOW – BOW ENERGY LTD – steady at $1.49

Bow tells shareholders at its annual general meeting that the year has been one of achievements but a challenging 12 months.

IIN – IINET LTD – up 19 cents, or 8.05 per cent, at $2.55

Internet service provider iinet has confirmed its intention to buy Canberra-based TransACT for $60 million.

OST – ONESTEEL LTD – down 3.5 cents, or 3.63 per cent, at 93 cents

Steelmaker OneSteel expects conditions for the Australian steel industry to remain challenging.

SEK – SEEK LTD – up seven cents, or 1.17 per cent, at $6.05

Online jobs website business and education services provider Seek says it expects to post earnings growth in 2011/12.

MMX – MURCHISON METALS LTD – in trading halt, last traded at 27.5 cents

Murchison Metals is ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater, continuing talks to sell its stakes in the beleaguered Oakajee port project and its sole producing mine in Western Australia.

ORI – ORICA LTD – down 16 cents at $24.85

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has described delays in telling residents about a Newcastle chemical leak as completely and utterly unacceptable.

However, he defended his embattled environment minister Robyn Parker for her role in the Orica debacle, saying she was following advice from her agency by waiting to notify the public.

SOL – WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON & CO LTD – down six cents at $14.10

PPT – PERPETUAL LTD – up 16 cents at $20.54

The war of words between Washington H Soul Pattinson (WHSP) and its second largest shareholder continues.