Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Tuesday, Feb 17:

ANZ – ANZ BANKING GROUP – up 13 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $35.87

The head of ANZ’s Australian operations has quit and will be replaced by the lender’s global head of commercial banking.

AZJ – AURIZON – down 12 cents, or 2.4 per cent, at $4.88

Aurizon’s shareholders are set for higher cash returns, with low iron ore and coal prices leaving the rail operator cool on expensive growth projects.

BEN – BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK – down 64 cents, or 4.45 per cent, at $13.74

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has lifted its half year cash earnings more than 17 per cent amid strong lending growth.

CCV – CASH CONVERTERS – down 5.5 cents, or 4.7 per cent, at $1.11

Cash Converters issued $23 million in loans in December, a new record, as its online business continued to grow.

CM8 – CROWD MOBILE – down half a cent, or 2.4 per cent, at 20.5 cents

Crowd-sourced micro-job workforce provider Crowd Mobile says it is well placed for expansion.

GEM – G8 EDUCATION – down 48 cents, or 10 per cent, at $4.30

Childcare centre operator G8 Education’s annual profit has soared after buying more than 200 centres in 2014.

GFF – GOODMAN FIELDER – up 2.5 cents, or 3.9 per cent, at 66.5 cents

Chinese authorities have approved the $1.34 billion takeover of Australia’s largest food maker, Goodman Fielder.

PFL – PATTIES FOODS – down 10.5 cents, or 7.7 per cent, at $1.265

Patties Foods has recalled frozen berry products linked to a hepatitis A outbreak, which has spread to eight confirmed cases.

QBE – QBE INSURANCE – up 39 cents, or 3.4 per cent, at $11.98

Global insurance giant QBE will sell its Australian and New Zealand agency businesses to Steadfast Group in late March.