EADS, Icade, Michelin, Peugeot, Vivendi: French Stocks Preview

By Rudy Ruitenberg and Francesca Cinelli

Jan. 14 (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 declined 48.23, or 1.5 percent, to 3,197.89 in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also dropped 1.5 percent.

Argan SA (ARG FP): The warehouse owner said 2008 rental income rose 20 percent to 26.6 million euros ($35.3 million), beating its own forecast and estimated another increase to 30 million euros in 2009. The shares lost 27 cents, or 3.4 percent, to 7.63 euros.

Auplata SA (ALAUP FP): The gold mining company reported a 79 percent drop in fourth-quarter revenue to 700,000 euros. The shares dropped 1 cent, or 0.8 percent, to 1.28 euros.

European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. (EAD FP): The owner of planemaker Airbus SAS expects 2009 to be “difficult.”

Airbus SAS’s delivery of A380 planes will be “slightly under” plans this year, said EADS chief executive officer Louis Gallois. The shares added 24 cents, or 1.8 percent, to 13.46 euros.

GDF Suez SA (GSZ FP): The world’s second-biggest utility sold more than 4 billion euros of bonds. The shares added 1 cent to 32.76 euros.

Icade SA (ICAD FP): the French real-estate investment trust controlled by state-owned Caisse des Depots et Consignations was upgraded to “outperform” from “neutral” at Credit Suisse Group AG. The shares declined 1.74 euros, or 2.9 percent, to 59 euros.

L’Oreal SA (OR FP): Jefferies International Ltd. initiated coverage of the world’s largest cosmetics maker with a “hold” recommendation. The shares fell 1.1 euros, or 1.8 percent, to 59.88 euros.

Michelin & Cie. (ML FP): The world’s second-largest tiremaker was upgraded to “buy” from “sell” at Societe Generale SA. The shares fell 38 cents, or 1 percent, to 38.75 euros.

PSA Peugeot Citroen (UG FP): Europe’s second-biggest carmaker may have its debt rating cut by Moody’s Investors Service because of declining vehicle sales.

Separately, Royal Bank of Scotland upgraded the stock to “buy” from “hold.” The shares fell 26 cents, or 1.8 percent, to 14.30 euros.

Renault SA (RNO FP): France’s second-biggest automaker plans to sell 3 billion euros in convertible bonds, Le Figaro reported, citing an unidentified person. The shares fell 1.09 euros, or 5.3 percent, to 19.36 euros.

Riber SA (RIB FP): The maker of machines for the production of semiconductor wafers reported a 13 percent increase in full-year sales to 19.2 million euros and said the outlook for 2009 was “uncertain.” The shares closed unchanged at 99 cents.

Saft Groupe SA (SAFT FP): The battery maker won a 3 million-euro order from India’s Bharat Electronics. The shares fell 68 cents, or 3.4 percent, to 19.14 euros.

Thales SA (HO FP): Europe’s largest defense-electronics maker said it maintains its announced targets for 2008. The shares gained 40 cents, or 1.2 percent, to 32.69 euros.

Vivendi SA (VIV FP): France’s biggest media company sold 1 billion euros of five-year bonds. The shares fell 14 cents, or 0.6 percent, to 21.34 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris at rruitenberg@bloomberg.net; Francesca Cinelli in Milan at fcinelli@bloomberg.net.