European Market News

Monday December 1, 07:53 AM
French and Benelux stocks - Factors to watch on Dec. 1

PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Below are leading stories from French, Dutch and Belgian newspapers and company-related news which could have an impact on the market or individual stocks. FRENCH BANKS The European Commission denied a report on Saturday that it was blocking a French plan to shore up the capital positions of big retail banks, saying it was working with Paris to get it approved as soon as possible. 'There is no sort of blockage,' said Jonathan Todd, spokesman for EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, adding that the latter had spoken to French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde about the issue on Friday. 'They both agreed to pull out the stops to resolve the situation as quickly as possible,' he said. France announced last month that it would lend 10.5 billion euros ($13.6 billion) to the country's six top lenders before year-end to prop up their capital reserves. FORTISAS> Belgo-Dutch bancassurer holds shareholders meeting in Utrecht, the Netherlands, to discuss the recent split up of the company and to seek approval for changes to its management board. SANOFI (Paris: FR0000120578 - news) New chief executive officer Chris Viebacher starts work today. COLRUYT Belgian discount supermarket chain's profit rise by less than expected in the first half as cheaper prices draw in customers, but energy and labour costs eat into margins. POWEO (Paris: FR0004191674 - news) , Chief executive of alternative energy providers argues in la Tribune (NYSE: TRB - news) that high electricity prices would boost competition and push consumers to use less electricity. IAMGOLD Prelimary result of tender for Euro Ressources (Paris: FR0000054678 - news) is 43.4 million shares, representing 71.6 percent of the outstanding shares, above the minimum thresh-hold GEMALTO (Paris: NL0000400653 - news) Smart card maker Gemalto said it would withdraw or adjust the terms of its offer for wireless technology group Wavecom (Paris: FR0000073066 - news) if the resolutions put to a Wavecom shareholder meeting were adopted. Gemalto said it had informed French financial markets regulator AMF of its position. CELLECTIS (Paris: FR0010425595 - news) French genome engineering company Cellectis has launched its first gene research kit for marketing, allowing for a much quicker and more precise production of stable cell clones than was previously possible. Keywords: MARKETS FRANCE BENELUX/STOCKS ________________________________________________________ For a diary of top European results and forecasts For the Itraxx Europe CDS index see For blue-chip stocks news see For small- and mid-cap stocks news see For research on FTSEurofirst 300 companies _______________________________________________________ To view related displays double click on the following codes: Main stock markets: Dow Jones (news) ............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225 (news) ............. Tokyo report............ FTSE 100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. European stocks stories. CAC-40................. AEX (Amsterdam: news) index............. World Indices....... Bel-20 index........... Bel-20 futures...... AEX futures......... French mid-smallcap .. Dutch midcap index.. AEX options......... Luxx index......... Dutch earnings poll.. French diary... Belgian/Luxembourg diary Dutch diary... European equity diary... ______________________________________________________ Reuters survey of world bourse outlook.......... Western European IPO diary........................... European Asset Allocation......................... Reuters News at a Glance (GLCE.PK - news) : Equities............... Main currency report:............................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index............................ DJ STOXX index.................................... Eurotop 300 sector gainers/losers............. Top 25 European pct gainers..................... Top 25 European pct losers...................... European Equities speed guide.................. Pan European indices...........................