Bobst, Lonza, HBM Bioventures, Oerlikon: Swiss Equity Preview

By Joseph Heaven and Elena Logutenkova

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in Zurich. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share prices are from the last close.

The Swiss Market Index of the biggest and most actively traded companies declined 218.64, or 3.7 percent, to 5,675.09. The broader Swiss Performance Index slid 177.83, or 3.7 percent, to 4,682.67.

Bank Sarasin & Cie. (BSAN SW): The wealth manager will open an office with eight staff in the Swiss capital by April to win more wealthy private clients, Berner Zeitung said, citing an interview with Chief Executive Officer Eric G. Sarasin. The shares declined 1.7 francs, or 4.5 percent, to 36.5 francs.

Bobst Group AG (BOBNN SW): The world's biggest packaging machinery maker cut its full-year sales forecast as the global economic slowdown hurts orders. The company now expects 2008 sales of between 1.65 billion Swiss francs ($1.42 billion) and 1.7 billion francs excluding any exchange rate impacts. The shares fell 2.15 francs, or 4.7 percent, to 43.2 francs.

HBM Bioventures AG (HBMN SW): The life-science fund started by former Roche Holding AG Chief Financial Officer Henri Meier reported net income of 27.4 million francs in the three months through September, compared with a loss of 63.2 million francs a year earlier as the net asset value of its investment portfolio rose 3 percent. The stock fell 20 centimes, or 0.4 percent, to 45 francs.

Industrieholding Cham AG (INDN SW): The Swiss specialty paper maker said it will spin off its Hammer Retex real-estate business to concentrate on its paper activities. The shares fell 15 francs, or 5.1 percent, to 280 francs.

Lonza Group AG (LONN VX): The world's largest maker of drug ingredients said its ``portfolio strength'' and cost savings aren't fully compensating for the worsened macroeconomic climate in the second half of the year. The shares declined 6.2 francs, or 5.1 percent, to 114.4 francs.

OC Oerlikon Corp. (OERL VX): The world's biggest maker of spinning machines said it is selling a unit that makes lenses for projectors to management and local private investors. The shares fell 25 centimes, or 0.3 percent, to 83.65 francs.

Petroplus Holdings AG (PPHN VX): Europe's biggest independent refiner by capacity said it shut the Coryton refinery in England after an operational disruption. The stock fell 1 franc, or 3.4 percent, to 28.1 francs.

PSP Swiss Property AG (PSPN SW): PSP's real-estate portfolio hasn't deteriorated in value in a way that justifies the decline in its shares, Finanz & Wirtschaft said, citing an interview with Chief Executive Officer Luciano Gabriel. The stock fell 3.4 francs, or 6.6 percent, to 48 francs.

Roche Holding AG (ROG VX): The world's biggest maker of cancer medicines said studies showed its MabThera drug was effective as a long-term therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. The shares fell 2.3 francs, or 1.4 percent, to 168 francs.

SGS SA (SGSN VX): The world's biggest goods inspector said it's seeing ``strong demand'' in all its business lines in the second half of the year and reiterated a target to increase sales by at least 10 percent. The shares fell 66.5 francs, or 6.4 percent, to 968.5 francs.

To contact the reporter on this story: Joseph Heaven in Zurich at jheaven1@bloomberg.netElena Logutenkova in Zurich at elogutenkova@bloomberg.net