Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Tuesday:

BHP – BHP BILLITON – down 5.00 cents, or 0.13 per cent, at $37.97

FMG – FORTESCUE METALS – down 3.00 cents, or 0.51 per cent, at $5.82

RIO – RIO TINTO – up 1.00 cent, or 0.01 per cent, at $68.01

Australia’s biggest iron ore miners have stopped loading ships and suspended rail operations as cyclone Christine heads towards the Pilbara coast.

VMT – VMOTO – up 0.3 cents, or 10 per cent, at 3.3 cents

Scooter maker Vmoto expects 2013 will be its first profitable year, thanks to growth in China.