European Market News

Thursday September 3, 06:01 AM
French and Benelux stocks - Factors to watch on Sept 2

PARIS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Below are company-related news and leading stories from French and Benelux newspapers which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks. ALCATEL (Paris: FR0000130007 - news) -LUCENT The telecoms equipment supplier launches a 750 million euros convertible bonds offering, whose main purpose is to refinance its debt. Separately, Sony Ericsson, Alcatel-lucent and a private equity arm of JP Morgan are among the candidates shortlisted to buy Nortel Networks Corp's stake in LG (003550.KS - news) -Nortel, South Korean online news eDaily reports. ACCOR (Paris: FR0000120404 - news) Accor says it will open seven hotels in India in 2010, 18 in 2011 and 19 in 2012. GDF SUEZ (Paris: FR0010208488 - news) GDF Suez says it has just finalised the acquisition from Eni (Milan: ENI.MI - news) of a 45 percent stake in the offshore exploration muara bakau production sharing contract in Indonesia. FORTIS (Amsterdam: FORAL.AS - news) Belgium's financial markets regulator said on Tuesday it would deepen its investigation into Fortis over its communication of a solvency plan the troubled group issued in June 2008. RHJ INTERNATIONAL (Brussels: RHJI.BR - news) Belgian finance investor RHJ International said it has improved its offer for General Motor's European Opel unit. EDF France's state-owned electricity provider, EDF (Paris: FR0010242511 - news) , will hold a board meeting on Sept. 23 to decide on its future chief executive, newspaper Les Echos reported.. EADS (Paris: NL0000235190 - news) Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE: NOC - news) said on Tuesday a preliminary World Trade Organization ruling expected this week in the U.S. case against EU launch aid for Airbus was irrelevant to a multibillion-dollar U.S. tanker competition and should be set aside. NEOPOST Mailroom service group Neopost (Paris: FR0000120560 - news) posted lower Q2 sales but said it was more confident about the second half. BOLLORE (Paris: FR0000039299 - news) /HAVAS French businessman Vincent Bollore said 'all doors are open' concerning advertising groups Aegis and Havas . ICADE (Paris: FR0010308841 - news) Property group Icade (Paris: FR0000035081 - news) , which is majority-owned by French state bank Caisse des Depots, said it was considering a merger by absorption of SIICInvest (Paris: FR0010332049 - news) by Icade. ABLYNX (Brussels: ABLX.BR - news) Belgian biotechnology company Ablynx said it is starting Phase II clinical trials of its ALX-0081 protein designed to prevent blod clots. VIVENDI (Paris: FR0000127771 - news) Vevo, an online music video start-up supported by YouTube's technology platform, is in talks with CBS Corp (NYSE: RBV - news) and NBC to license and develop shows for the Web, according to two people familiar with the talks. ________________________________________________________ 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...........................