Areva, Carrefour, Electricite de France: French Stocks Preview

By Tara Patel

Aug. 4 (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 Aug. 1 close.

The CAC 40 Index retreated 78.02, or 1.8 percent, to 4,314.34 on Aug. 1. The SBF 120 Index also dropped 1.7 percent.

Areva SA (CEI FP): The world's largest manufacturer of nuclear plants signed an agreement with the Central African Republic for uranium production at the country's Bakouma mine. The shares fell 7.20 euros, or 1 percent, to 732.50 euros.

Carrefour SA (CA FP): Europe's largest retailer has hired headhunters to seek a replacement for Chief Executive Officer Jose Luis Duran, citing a European businessman who was approached, the Financial Times reported. A Paris-based spokesman for Carrefour's board, who declined to be further identified, denied that a search firm had been engaged. The shares fell 56 cents, or 1.7 percent, to 32.37 euros.

Electricite de France SA (EDF FP): The world's largest owner of nuclear power stations backed away from a proposed bid for British Energy Group Plc, saying circumstances are not in place for expansion in the U.K.

Centrica may revive a 22.5 billion-pound all-stock merger plan with British Energy, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing unidentified people close to the company. EDF shares lost 1.75 euros, or 3.1 percent, to 54.20 euros.

Vinci SA (DG FP): The world's biggest builder, Hochtief AG and partners will start work on a $3 billion bridge linking Bahrain and Qatar in January, Gulf Daily News reported, citing Cowi AS design consultant Mogens Hviid. The shares lost 41 cents, 1.1 percent, to 36.09 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tara Patel in Paris at tpatel2@bloomberg.net