European Market News

Wednesday July 29, 05:30 AM
French and Benelux stocks - Factors to watch on July 28

PARIS, July 28 (Reuters) - Below is company-related news and leading stories from French and Benelux newspapers which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks. EADS (Paris: NL0000235190 - news) The European aerospace group reported a 23 percent drop in first-half profit on the back of foreign exchange swings and lower aircraft prices, but maintained its basic outlook while raising cashflow targets. AHOLD (Amsterdam: AH.AS - news) The Dutch supermarket group said on Tuesday its second quarter sales rose 11.5 percent, lagging forecasts, even as it continued to benefit from consumers opting to buy groceries instead of eating out in a weak economic environment. Total group sales were 6.43 billion euros. AGFA-GEVAERT The Belgian imaging technology group on Tuesday reported a 2.7 percent year-on-year rise in second-quarter operating profit, above market expectations. NEXANS The French cable maker said on Tuesday it swung to a first-half net loss of 57 million euros from a net profit of 119 million but expected to report a 2009 net income despite restructuring charges of about 100 million euros. LVMH The world's biggest luxury group posted a 12 percent drop in first-half operating earnings, dragged down by its wines, spirits, watches and jewellery businesses. SANOFI AVENTIS Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines unit of French drugmaker Sanofi (Paris: FR0000120578 - news) -Aventis, and CSL Biotherapies, a unit of Australia's CSL Ltd, said they had begun shipping seasonal flu vaccine to health providers in the United States. Shares of companies that make vaccines and drugs for flu rose on Monday after the World Health Organization said more than 20 countries and overseas territories confirmed their first cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus. Separately, Sanofi-Aventis said on Tuesday its heart drug Multaq was now available in the United States after it won marketing approval on July 1. PERNOD RICARD (Paris: FR0000120693 - news) The French spirits group sold its Tia Maria coffee liqueur brand for 125 million euros in cash to Italy's Illva Saronno, bringing it closer to its 1 billion-euro disposal goal to help cut debt. KLEPIERRE (Paris: FR0000121964 - news) France's third-biggest listed property company posted flat first-half core earnings and announced more disposals to shore up cash reserves in a difficult economic environment. UBISOFT ENTERTAINMENT The French video games company cut its earnings targets for the fiscal full year as sales of Nintendo DS games have dropped faster than expected. GDF SUEZ (Paris: FR0010208488 - news) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will meet executives of French energy major GDF Suez on Tuesday to discuss joint projects, Putin's spokesman said on Monday. COMPAGNIE DES ALPES (Paris: FR0000053324 - news) Compagnie des Alpes said fiscal nine-month sales rose 2.5 percent to 452.6 million euros. APRIL GROUP (Paris: FR0004037125 - news) April Group said first-half sales rose 27.5 percent to 428 milion euros. NEXTRADIOTV (Paris: FR0010240994 - news) NextRadioTV said first-half sales fell 6 percent to 59.7 million euros as it swung to a net loss of 6.2 million. The company said it plans a 20 million-euro capital increase. APRR (Paris: FR0006807004 - news) The French toll-road group said second-quarter sales fell 4.1 percent to 543 million euros. COLRUYT The Belgian discount supermarket chain said on Monday it has acquired a 26.9 percent stake in Belgian offshore wind farm project Belwind. No financial details were available. ________________________________________________________ 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... 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