Challenger Diversified Property Group has posted a first half net loss of $13.7 million after property writedowns and revaluations.

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Becton Property Group Ltd expects to report another loss for the first half of its financial year.

Alumina Ltd, minority partner of the AWAC group, has blamed the global financial crisis after revealing a $26 million net loss in 2009.

Optus says third quarter net profit grew by 16 per cent with mobile revenues and customer numbers continuing to rise.

Australand Property Group has posted a 31 per cent fall in calendar 2009 operating profit and says it expects to see a similar result this year.

Hearing implant company Cochlear Ltd expects its net profit for fiscal 2010 to grow at least 15 per cent above its 2009 result.

Department store David Jones Ltd has increased its first half sales by 2.3 per cent and sharply raised its interim and second half profit guidance.

Bradken Ltd has posted a 26.4 per cent decline in first half profit after the company felt the brunt of the economic downturn.

Shares in Macquarie Group have slumped more than six per cent after the company said second half profit would be in line with the first half profit of $479m.

Software group Reckon Ltd has reported a 20 per cent increase in annual net profit and announced a share buy back.

The Australian stock market has received a mixed set of leads from overseas markets, with Wall Street's main indices themselves mixed but oil prices higher.

US stocks were lower but trading in a tight range as investors remained wary about the strength of the economic recovery and mounting sovereign debt in Europe.

The Australian dollar opened slightly higher on Tuesday as currencies remain in narrow ranges in subdued trade.

Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange on Tuesday.

Oil and other energy prices climbed as another winter storm was expected to dump even more snow on the US east coast and lift demand for energy commodities.

US share prices swung lower in opening trade on Monday as markets reopened after a rocky week for global bourses amid fears of debt problems in the eurozone that could affect the overall world economy.

India's economy should expand by 7.2 per cent this fiscal year, the government forecast on Monday, as growth heads back to the robust levels seen before the global financial crisis.

Energy gas prices climbed on Monday as another winter storm was expected to dump even more snow on the US East Coast.

Capital investment expectations for the June quarter have risen to the highest level in seven years, a survey shows.

Xstrata reported a 41 per cent drop in its annual profit in 2009 and pinned its hopes on a renewed boom in commodities demand in China.

The big four banks will retain their double-A ratings following the government's decision to withdraw the wholesale funding guarantee, Standard & Poor's says.

The Australian dollar closed slightly lower after few domestic or overseas leads.

Xstrata Coal will stop production at its Tahmoor mine in New South Wales and lock-out the operation's employees for one week due to ongoing strike action.

The fallout from the global financial crisis is expected to be seen dragging on the profits of mining giants BHP Billiton Ltd and Rio Tinto Ltd.

Despite a falling Aussie dollar, the petrol price has continued to drop, with the national average cost of unleaded now $1.24 a litre.

Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close.

The way is open for NAB to negotiate with AXA SA for the takeover of AXA APH, after AMP's exclusivity agreement with the French life insurance giant expired.

Brisbane-based drug developer CBio Ltd expects to list on the Australian stock exchange (ASX) next week after raising $7.1 million through a public share sale.

The Australian share market has closed marginally higher ahead of key earnings reports by heavyweights BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and CBA later in the week.