French Stocks: Bic, Cap Gemini, Danone, Havas, Saint-Gobain

By Sarah Thompson

July 25 (Bloomberg) -- France's CAC 40 Index fell 26.81, or 0.6 percent, to 4,321.18 at 9:35 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index decreased 0.8 percent.

The following shares rose or fell in Paris. Stock symbols are in parentheses.

Bic SA (BIC FP) dropped 1.23 euros, or 3.6 percent, to 32.59 euros after Deutsche Bank AG lowered the world's biggest maker of disposable pens to ``sell'' from ``hold.''

``The second-quarter 2008 results to be announced August 6 could be another profit warning as we believe consensus underestimates adverse factors,'' analyst David Cerdan wrote in a research note dated July 24.

Cap Gemini SA (CAP FP) decreased 35 cents, or 0.9 percent, to 38.14 euros. Europe's largest computer-services company agreed to buy Getronics PinkRoccade's business-application services unit for 255 million euros ($401 million).

Groupe Danone SA (BN FP) advanced 2.15 euros, or 4.8 percent, to 47 euros. Europe's biggest maker of baby food said first-half profit rose 5.7 percent after the purchase of Royal Numico NV last year boosted sales of infant formula in Asia and the Middle East.

Net income from continuing operations climbed to 701 million euros ($1.1 billion), or 1.47 euros a share, from 663 million euros, or 1.38 euros, in the six months ended June 30, Paris-based Danone said today in an e-mailed statement. That beat the 664 million-euro median estimate of six analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Havas SA (HAV FP) increased 7 cents, or 3.1 percent, to 2.34 euros. The owner of the Euro RSCG Worldwide advertising agency said first-half sales rose 3.6 percent, led by growth in Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Icade SA (ICAD FP) added 1.18 euros, or 1.7 percent, to 69.35 euros. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc raised the French property developer controlled by Caisse des Depots et Consignations to ``buy'' from ``hold,'' saying ``we believe Icade's first-half figures show that management is in control of delivering both transparency and growth.''

InfoVista SA (IFV FP) added 2 cents, or 1 percent, to 2 euros. The French provider of VistaInsight management software said it sees 2009 revenue growth of about 10 percent.

Lagardere SCA (MMB FP) slid 77 cents, or 2.2 percent, to 34.90 euros. 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.

PagesJaunes SA (PAJ FP) decreased 62 cents, or 6.7 percent, to 8.67 euros. The French yellow-pages company bought by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. said first-half profit dropped 14 percent after a gain a year earlier from an asset disposal and cut its full-year sales outlook.

Sequana Capital SA (VOR FP) slid 9 cents, or 0.8 percent, to 10.68 euros. The French investment company formerly known as Worms & Cie. reported first-half net income of 21 million euros from 101 million euros.

Cie. de Saint-Gobain SA (SGO FP) gained 1.37 euros, or 3.7 percent, to 38.05 euros. 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.

Ubisoft Entertainment SA (UBI FP) added 1.83 euros, or 2.9 percent, to 64.78 euros. 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.''

Vivendi SA (VIV FP) declined 88.5 cents, or 3.3 percent, to 26.1 euros. The owner of France's second-largest wireless company said second-quarter sales rose to 5.99 billion euros ($9.4 billion) from 5.2 billion euros, Paris-based Vivendi said in an e-mailed statement today. Analysts predicted 6.04 billion euros, the median of 14 estimates compiled by Bloomberg News.

To contact the reporter on this story: Simon Kennedy in Paris at skennedy4@bloomberg.net. Sarah Thompson in London at sthompson17@bloomberg.net