Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange Friday, February 22 Ardent Leisure has boosted its half year profit by 11 per cent, largely thanks to its newly acquired health clubs and entertainment centres in the US. Cement maker Adelaide Brighton expects a slow recovery in residential building to offset any slowdown in mining construction. AMP - AMP LTD - down two cents at $5.42 Financial services firm AMP has lifted its annual profit by two per cent as it continues to benefit from its merger with AXA Asia Pacific. The week has gone from bad to worse for APN News and Media as the trans-Tasman publisher reported a massive full year loss amid further writedowns on its newspaper assets. Alumina's full year net losses have blown out and the troubled aluminium producer is bracing itself for more uncertainty ahead. Pallet supplier Brambles has maintained its growth forecasts as it looks to expand in central and eastern Europe after posting a 26 per cent increase in first half profit. Casinos operator Echo Entertainment Group says building a new integrated casino resort in Brisbane could cost around $1 billion. Fairfax Media has signalled it will chase even deeper cost cuts after reporting a fall in underlying first-half earnings and warning poor advertising spending will continue to drag on revenue. Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has raised its performance targets for the full year after fewer natural disasters contributed to a sharp rise in its first half profit. Iluka Resources is confident of a recovery in the mineral sands industry this year but it won't come quickly enough to save 200 jobs it has decided to axe Energy producer and retailer Origin Energy predicts profits will fall further than expected in the second half as it moves to slash 850 jobs. PPX - PAPERLINX LTD - down 0.5 cents at 9.2 cents Stationery company Paperlinx has announced a first half loss of $57.3 million due to weak market conditions. Qantas' key domestic operations have suffered a steep drop in first half earnings as the battle for market share forces down airfares. Lotteries and wagering operator Tatts Group says its online operations are growing strongly, and it is looking at further opportunities in that area. Village Roadshow says it's cashing in on people's willingness to indulge in a little pleasure, after posting an 18 per cent lift in half year profit. Whitehaven Coal chairman Mark Vaile insists the miner's growth plans are on track despite a bad year culminating in the resignation of respected chief executive Tony Haggarty.