Areva, Danone, Havas, M6, Saint-Gobain: French Stocks Preview

By Simon Kennedy

July 25 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose stocks may have unusual changes in Paris. Symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the last close.

France's CAC 40 Index fell 60.75, or 1.4 percent, to 4,347.99 in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also decreased 1.4 percent.

Areva SA (CEI FP): The world's largest nuclear reactor builder said second-quarter sales advanced 17 percent to 3.4 billion euros on nuclear power-plant projects. The company's investment certificates dropped 14.19 euros, or 1.9 percent, to 739.42 euros.

Groupe Danone SA (BN FP): The food company that bought Royal Numico NV last year reports first-half profit before the market opens in Paris. Net income probably rose to 664 million euros, according to the median of six analyst estimates, on higher sales of baby formula and increased demand for dairy products in eastern Europe. The company will also restate last year's figures. The shares rose 38 cents, or 0.9 percent, to 44.85 euros.

Havas SA (HAV FP): The owner of the Euro RSCG Worldwide advertising firm reports first-half revenue before the market opens in Paris. The shares dropped 5 cents, or 2.2 percent, to 2.27 euros.

Lagardere SCA (MMB FP): France's largest publisher said first-half revenue fell 3.8 percent to 3.8 billion euros on an advertising slowdown in the U.S. and the sale of retail and newspaper units. The shares added 44 cents, or 1.3 percent, to 35.67 euros.

M6-Metropole Television SA (MMT FP): France's second- largest commercial television company said first-half profit fell 27 percent to 79.2 million euros on costs for broadcasting soccer's European Championship in June. The shares rose 3 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 14.27 euros.

PagesJaunes SA (PAJ FP): The yellow-pages company reports first-half earnings before the market opens in Paris. The shares added 20 cents, or 2.2 percent, to 9.29 euros.

Cie. de Saint-Gobain SA (SGO FP): Europe's biggest supplier of building materials said first-half profit rose to 1.1 billion euros from 1.07 billion euros a year earlier as higher selling prices outweighed rising energy costs. The company cut its 2008 forecast and announced 4,000 job cuts because of the construction slowdown. The shares declined 1.14 euros, or 3 percent, to 36.68 euros.

Ubisoft Entertainment SA (UBI FP): Europe's second-largest video-game maker said fiscal first-quarter sales rose 26 percent to 169 million euros, boosted by new titles including ``Assassin's Creed'' and ``Rayman Raving Rabbids 2.'' The shares dropped 22 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 62.95 euros.

Vivendi SA (VIV FP): The owner of France's second-largest wireless company posted a 15 percent jump in quarterly sales to 5.99 billion euros, boosted by the purchase of telephone and Internet provider Neuf Cegetel. The shares added 59 cents, or 2.3 percent, to 26.98 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in Paris at skennedy4@bloomberg.net.