Allianz, Douglas, Hannover Re, Lufthansa: German Equity Preview

By Stefanie Haxel and Henrietta Rumberger

Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes in German trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close.

DAX Futures expiring in September declined 18, or 0.3 percent, to 6,584.5 as of 8:21 a.m. in Frankfurt. Germany's benchmark DAX Index rose 0.7 percent to 6,561.39 yesterday.

Aixtron AG (AIX GY): The equipment maker for the chip industry said second-quarter profit jumped 94 percent to 7.4 million euros ($11.4 million) on demand for gear to produce light-emitting diodes. That compares with a 6.3 million-euro median estimate of seven analysts Bloomberg News surveyed by phone and e-mail. The shares lost 21 cents, or 3.4 percent, to 5.92 euros.

Allianz SE (ALV GY): Europe's biggest insurer abandoned its earnings growth forecast after losses at Dresdner Bank led to a 29 percent drop in second-quarter profit. The shares fell 1.07 euros, or 0.9 percent, to 112.98.

Altana AG (ALT GY): The world's largest maker of additives for coatings and plastics parts said second-quarter profit rose 2.4 percent to 33.8 million euros after it raised selling prices for specialty chemicals including pearlescent pigments used in cosmetics. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News had predicted net income of 34.4 million euros. The shares climbed 41 cents, or 4.1 percent, to 10.40 euros.

AMB Generali Holding AG (AMB2 GY): The German division of Italy's Assicurazioni Generali SpA said first-half net income declined to 134 million euros from 224 million euros a year earlier. The stock advanced 57 cents, or 0.5 percent, to 120.27 euros.

Bayer AG (BAY GY): Germany's largest drugmaker bought Nycomed Holding AS's experimental cancer medicines for as much as 52 million euros. Bayer shares added 4 cents, or 0.1 percent, to 55.52 euros.

Demag Cranes AG (D9C GY): The world's largest maker of mobile harbor cranes said third-quarter profit doubled to 24.8 million euros on sales of cranes and industrial services. Demag shares climbed 44 cents, or 1.3 percent, to 34.71 euros.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA GY): Europe's second-largest airline faces a 36-hour strike of pilots at its CityLine regional unit after wage talks faltered. The shares gained 16 cents, or 1 percent, to 15.63 euros.

Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE GY): Europe's largest phone company said second-quarter profit fell 35 percent to 394 million euros on German client losses, the stronger euro and higher interest costs. That compares with the 748 million-euro median estimate of 12 analysts polled by Bloomberg via phone and e-mail. Deutsche Telekom shares advanced 5 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 11.36 euros.

Douglas Holding AG (DOU GY): Europe's largest cosmetics retailer reported a third-quarter loss of 1.2 million euros as cash-strapped western Europeans bought less perfume and make-up. The shares rose 20 cents, or 0.7 percent, to 29.55 euros.

Draegerwerk AG (DRW3 GY): The maker of the Infinity ACS patient-monitoring system said second-quarter profit rose 16 percent to 18.2 million euros as sales increased in Asia and its home market of Germany. The shares advanced 1.77 euros, or 4.7 percent, to 39.77.

Duerr AG (DUE GY): The company whose painting equipment is used by Volkswagen AG said second-quarter profit tripled on continued demand from the automobile industry. The shares added 15 cents, or 0.6 percent, to 23.95 euros.

Fraport AG (FRA GY): The owner of Frankfurt Airport said second-quarter profit gained 3.3 percent to 68.5 million euros as traffic at two of its smaller airports increased. Profit beat the 56.4 million-euro median estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The shares rose 1.83 euros, or 4.6 percent, to 41.73.

Freenet AG (FNT GY): The mobile-phone and Internet company said second-quarter profit fell 74 percent to 10.2 million euros following an accounting change and customer losses in the Web access business. That missed the 14.7 million-euro median estimate of five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News via phone and e-mail. The shares increased 11 cents, or 1 percent, to 11.08 euros.

Gagfah SA (GFJ GY): Germany's largest publicly traded residential landlord said second-quarter profit fell to 31.5 million euros as the value of its apartments dropped. The shares added 10 cents, or 1 percent, to 9.90 euros.

Hannover Re (HNR1 GY): Germany's second-biggest reinsurer said second-quarter profit declined 40 percent to 100.8 million euros as falling stock markets weighed on income from investments. That missed the 142 million-euro median estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The shares gained 22 cents, or 0.7 percent, to 31.32 euros.

Premiere AG (PRE GY): Germany's biggest pay-television company said its second-quarter loss widened to 37.8 million euros from 32.6 million euros a year earlier on higher taxes, while piracy problems and uncertainty over soccer broadcasting rights persist. That compares with the 25.3 million-euro median estimate of six analysts in a Bloomberg News survey. The shares retreated 45 cents, or 3.8 percent, to 11.39 euros.

Puma AG (PUM GY): Europe's second-largest sporting-goods maker posted a profit of 45.6 million euros after the company spent more promoting its shoes and apparel before the Olympic Games. That beat the 41.1 million-euro average of four analysts' estimates. Puma advanced 5.41 euros, or 2.5 percent, to 223.32.

Rhoen-Klinikum AG (RHK GY): Germany's biggest publicly traded hospital operator said first-half net profit rose 18 percent to 61.9 million euros because of a lower corporate tax rate. The shares advanced 30 cents, or 1.5 percent, to 20.65 euros.

TUI AG (TUI1 GY): Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. and a group led by the city of Hamburg are the only bidders for the Hapag-Lloyd shipping division that qualified for a second round, Financial Times Deutschland said. TUI, Europe's largest travel company, added 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 15.06 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stefanie Haxel in Frankfurt at shaxel@bloomberg.net; Henrietta Rumberger in Frankfurt at hrumberger@bloomberg.net.