Business & Decision, High Co, Rhodia: French Stocks Preview

By Helene Fouquet

Aug. 21 (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 added 33.08, or 0.8 percent, to 4,365.87 in Paris, advancing for the first day this week. The SBF 120 Index increased 0.7 percent.

Business & Decision Group (BND FP): The consulting group said operating profit is below analyst forecasts, at between 2 percent and 2.5 percent of revenue for the first half. The shares declined 75 cents, or 8.6 percent, to 7.97 euros.

Gemalto NV (GTO FP): The world's largest smartcard maker reports first-half earnings before the market opens in Paris. The shares declined 48 cents, or 1.9 percent, to 24.79 euros.

High Co. (HCO FP): The marketing and communications consulting company bought the French business of U.S.-based Valassis Communications Inc. The companies didn't give financial terms. The shares dropped 1 cent, or 0.1 percent, to 7.14 euros.

Rhodia SA (RHA FP): The chemicals group, which is being sued by Koch Industries Inc.'s Invista unit for conspiring to steal trade secrets, said the lawsuit is ``completely without merit,'' and that it will ``vigorously defend its interests.'' The shares fell 61 cents, or 4.7 percent, to 12.35 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Helene Fouquet in Paris at hfouquet1@bloomberg.net.