Aventine Renewable posts 2nd-quarter net loss

LOS ANGELES, July 31 (Reuters) - Ethanol maker Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc AVR.N reported a quarterly net loss on Thursday after writing down the value of auction-rate securities.

The net loss was $1.9 million, or 5 cents per share, in the second quarter, compared with a profit of $12.6 million, or 30 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding the loss from auction-rate securities, the company earned 16 cents a share. On that basis, Wall Street analysts, on average, expected earnings of 12 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)