Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Wednesday, April 8:

AGO – ATLAS IRON – in trading halt at 12 cents

Atlas Iron is considering asset sales and could potentially mothball its Pilbara operations as it launches an urgent review amid plunging iron ore prices.

BHP – BHP BILLITON – up 23 cents, or 0.8 per cent, at $30.45

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS GROUP – down 2.5 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at $1.795

RIO – RIO TINTO – up 37 cents, or 0.7 per cent, at $56.15

There was no Easter weekend recovery for the iron ore price, which has plunged to new decade lows below $US47 over the Easter weekend.

BRG – BREVILLE – up three cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $7.51

Kitchen appliance maker Breville has appointed a senior LG Electronics executive as its new boss after a seven month search.

DLX – DULUXGROUP – steady at $6.51

DuluxGroup has taken a $NZ15.2 million ($A15.10 million) provision, including $NZ8.9 million in cash, to settle its tax dispute with the Inland Revenue Department over subsidiary Alesco NZ’s use of optional convertible notes.

LEI – LEIGHTON HOLDINGS – up 31 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $21.15

Construction giant Leighton Holdings has won a $US608 million ($A800.26 million) contract to build the world’s largest reinforced concrete reservoirs in Qatar.