French Stocks Rise, Led by BNP, SocGen, Aeroports de Paris

By Sarah Thompson

Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- France's CAC 40 Index gained 78.88, or 2.3 percent, to 3,527.38, a third advance, at 9:43 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index advanced 2.3 percent.

The following shares rose or fell in Paris. Stock symbols are in parentheses.

Aeroports de Paris (ADP FP) rose 2.21 euros, or 4.7 percent, to 49.27 euros. The state-controlled owner of Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, and NV Luchthaven Schiphol, the Dutch state-owned operator of Amsterdam airport, will exchange equity stakes of 8 percent and begin cooperating to improve their competitiveness.

BNP Paribas SA (BNP FP) added 3.455 euros, or 6.3 percent, to 58.35 euros. France's biggest bank and rivals Credit Agricole SA (ACA FP) and Societe Generale SA (GLE FP) will benefit from a government plan to invest 10.5 billion euros in the country's six biggest lenders on condition that they increase lending to companies and households. Societe Generale rose 4.07 euros, or 9.3 percent, to 48 euros. Credit Agricole climbed 1.04 euros, or 10 percent, to 11.49 euros.

Euro Disney SCA (EDL FP) increased 16 cents, or 2.7 percent, to 6.06 euros. Europe's largest theme-park operator said its full-year loss narrowed as more people visited the two parks and seven hotels the company owns on the outskirts of Paris.

JCDecaux SA (DEC FP) added 27 cents, or 2 percent, to 13.51 euros. The world's second-biggest seller of outdoor advertising won an exclusive 10-year contract from Dubai International Airports. It didn't give financial terms.

SA des Ciments Vicat (VCT FP) increased 85 cents, or 2.8 percent, to 31.4 euros. The cement maker agreed to buy 65 percent of Mauritania's BSA Ciment SA for an undisclosed sum.

Soitec SA (SOI FP) slid 47 cents, or 16 percent, to 2.5 euros. The company, whose silicon is used in the chips that power Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. game consoles, said fiscal second-quarter sales fell 28 percent to 60.1 million euros and cut its forecast for full-year revenue.

Valeo SA (FR FP) gained 22 cents, or 1.5 percent, to 15 euros. France's second-largest auto-parts maker said medium- term guidance remained under review as it reported third- quarter net income of 6 million euros ($8 million), compared with a year-earlier 40 million-euro loss resulting from a one- time charge.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Thompson in London at sthompson17@bloomberg.net.