French Stocks: Axa, Dexia, Veolia, Teleperformance, Total

By David Whitehouse

Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) -- France's CAC 40 Index rose for a third day, adding 38.12, or 0.9 percent, to 4,486.45 as of 2:52 p.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index advanced 0.8 percent.

The following are among the most active shares in Paris. Stock symbols are in parentheses.

Axa SA (CS FP) jumped 1.04 euros, or 5.1 percent, to 21.42 euros, a third straight increase. Europe's second-biggest insurer said first-half profit declined 32 percent to 2.16 billion euros ($3.3 billion) after falling stock markets curbed sales of savings plans and the company took writedowns on investments. Earnings exceeded the 1.93 billion-euro estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Bonduelle SA (BON FP) fell 2.85 euros, or 4.5 percent, to 60, snapping a four-day sequence of gains. The canned-food producer reported an 8.3 percent increase in fourth-quarter sales, missing analysts' estimates on a slowdown in consumer spending and a fire that slowed production of pre-packaged fresh salads in Italy.

Bourbon SA (GBB FP) climbed 1.16 euros, or 3.1 percent, to 38.75 euros, its third advance in four sessions. The owner of the world's biggest fleet of supply ships for deep-water oil exploration said second-quarter revenue rose 13 percent to 222 million euros after demand for offshore services compensated for the weaker dollar.

Dexia SA (DX FP) slumped 1.01 euros, or 10 percent, to 9 euros, making it the day's biggest decliner in the CAC 40 index. The world's largest lender to local governments plans to add $300 million to its U.S. bond insurance unit and stop selling coverage for asset-backed debt after the division posted a second-quarter loss.

Le Public Systeme SA (PUS FP) surged 67 cents, or 7.7 percent, to 9.34 euros, its biggest increase since November 2007. The public relations company said first-half revenue rose 19 percent to 60.9 million euros. Profit before tax jumped 25 percent to 19.3 million euros for the same period.

Teleperformance SA (RCF FP) slumped 1.80 euros, or 7.1 percent, to 23.27 euros, its biggest decline for more than five years. The call-center company that operates in 45 countries said the economy is ``challenging'' and its second-half visibility is ``limited.''

Patrick Jousseaume, an analyst at Societe Generale SA in Paris, today removed Teleperformance from Societe Generale's Mid & Small Caps Europe Premium List.

Total SA (FP FP), the share with the biggest weighting on the CAC 40, added 78 cents, or 1.6 percent, to 48.83, gaining for a second day. Crude oil futures rose after Turkey said that a pipeline carrying crude to the country's Mediterranean coast from Azerbaijan may remain shut for at least a week following an explosion.

Crude oil for September delivery rose as much as $3.20, or 2.7 percent, to $121.78 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract was at $121.05 at 1:26 p.m. London time.

Veolia Environnement SA (VIE FP) added 2.68 euros, or 8.1 percent, to 35.93, its biggest gain since December 2006. The world's biggest water company said first-half profit rose 1.5 percent to 500.5 million euros and that it will increase its dividend for 2008 by 10 percent.

The company also said it would cut costs and sell assets ``with the aim of improving the profitability of the businesses'' and to achieve after-tax return on capital employed targeted at over 10 percent by 2010.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Whitehouse in Paris at dwhitehouse1@bloomberg.net.