French and Benelux stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 24
24/02/2014 07:40
PARIS, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Below are company-related news and stories from French and Benelux media which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks. CAC-40 March futures FCEc1 down 0.19 percent at 0731 GMT NUMERICABLE NUME.PA , VIVENDI VIV.PA French cable firm Numericable is in talks to buy mobile operator SFR in a deal that would value the unit of media group Vivendi at more than 15 billion euros ($20.6 billion), Les Echos newspaper reported. ID:nL6N0LS107 ALCATEL-LUCENT ALUA.PA Alcatel-Lucent said it would stay out of a brewing price war in the telecom equipment market and set itself apart with better service and new products, including those from a new partnership announced on Sunday with Intel. ID:nL6N0LS0Z9 AXA AXAF.PA French insurance giant AXA Group and its partner in the United Arab Emirates, Kanoo Group, plan to become major shareholders in the UAE's Green Crescent Insurance Co (GCIC) GCIC.AD , GCIC said on Sunday. ID:nL6N0LS01B AIRBUS AIR.PA Airbus Group is expected to report on Wednesday that its fourth-quarter earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) - excluding one-offs, goodwill, impairments and exceptionals - rose 13.2 percent to 1.19 billion euros, the average of 10 estimates in a Reuters poll of banks and brokerages showed. Separately, rival Boeing BA.N and engine maker General Electric (GE) GE.N are seeking permission to sell airliner parts to Iran, industry officials and other sources familiar with the matter said. ID:nL6N0LQ0Z2 MAUREL & PROM MAUP.PA The oil and gas explorer said Gabon had granted it a new 20-year production sharing contract called Ezanga to replace its Omoueyi permit. The licence covers some 6,100 square km. ID:nHUG1DrfWJ ACCOR ACCP.PA Europe's largest hotel group said it had sold its stake in Australia's Reef Casino to Aquis, a Hong-Kong based investment firm, for about 55.5 million euros. ACCP.PA VEOLIA VIE.PA Trade unions and foreign investment funds holding the bulk of Veolia's shares are opposed to the potential nomination of public official David Azema to replace Antoine Frerot at the helm of the water and waste management company, Les Echos reported. EUROPACORP ECP.PA The film production company said on Friday it would pay 130 $130 million for a 50-percent-stake in a U.S. distribution and marketing joint venture it has created with Relativity Media. POSTNL PTNL.AS The Dutch mail group met its full-year profit target, lifted by cost cuts and tariff increases, and said it aimed for a significant increase in underlying profit this year. ID:nL6N0LT0D2 ZIGGO ZIGGO.AS U.S. cable group Liberty Global LBTYA.O and Dutch operator Ziggo said they were making good progress on preparations for Ziggo's takeover. ID:nWNAB049FG THROMBOGENICS THR.BR The Belgian biotech group said it was weighing unspecified "strategic options" for the company to improve the commercial success of its main product after disappointing sales in the United States. ID:nL6N0LT0CB PAIRI DAIZA PARPA.BR Two giant pandas arrived at the Belgian wildlife park on a 15-year loan on Sunday. Pairi Daiza had already seen a 30 percent bump in visitors last year, to 1.24 million. It expects 1.35 million visitors this year. ID:nL6N0LN1FH Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 For more information on Top News visit http://topnews.reuters.com For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in brackets: European Equities speed guide................... EUR/EQUITY FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. .FTEU3 DJ STOXX index...................................... .STOXX Top 10 STOXX sectors........................... .PGL.STOXXS Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... .PGL.STOXXES Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors..................... .PGL.FTEU3S Top 25 European pct gainers....................... .PG.PEUR Top 25 European pct losers........................ .PL.PEUR Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... .DJI Wall Street report ..... .N Nikkei 225............. .N225 Tokyo report............ .T FTSE 100............... .FTSE London report........... .L Xetra DAX............. .GDAXI Frankfurt market stories .F CAC-40................. .FCHI Paris market stories... .PA World Indices...................................... 0#.INDEX Reuters survey of world bourse outlook.......... EQUITYPOLL1 Western European IPO diary.......................... WEUIPO European Asset Allocation......................... EUR/ASSET Reuters News at a Glance: Equities..... TOP/EQE World stock markets.... GLANCE/STX Main currency report: Dollar/euro/yen........................................ FRX/ Keywords: FRANCE BENELUX/STOCKS