Arcandor, BMW, HeidelbergCement, Lanxess: German Equity Preview

By Nadja Brandt

March 18 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in Germany. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close.

The X-DAX Index rose 0.5 percent to 4.057.20. The measure, derived from trading in DAX Index futures, provides an estimate of Germany’s benchmark index. The DAX fell 1.4 percent to 3,987.77.

Arcandor AG (ARO GY): The parent of travel company Thomas Cook Group Plc plans to hold its annual shareholders meeting. The shares added 5 percent to 1.47 euros.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW GY): The biggest luxury- auto maker plans to publish its annual report and hold its annual press conference. The shares increased 1.7 percent to 22.85 euros.

Douglas Holding AG (DOU GY): Germany’s largest makeup and perfume retailer plans to hold its annual shareholders meeting. The company in February said its first-quarter net income fell 7.1 percent to 87.6 million euros ($114 million). The shares advanced 1 percent to 31.20 euros.

HeidelbergCement AG (HEI GY): The cement maker owned by the German billionaire Merckle family plans to slash its 2008 dividend by 91 percent after net profit last year dropped and the financial market crisis ate into reserves. The shares dropped 1.2 percent to 20.75 euros.

Lanxess AG (LXS GY): Germany’s largest publicly traded specialty chemicals maker is scheduled to release fourth-quarter results. The company in January confirmed its 2008 guidance after a “very weak” fourth quarter. The shares declined 5 percent to 13.04 euros.

Phoenix Solar AG (PS4 GY): The maker of sunlight-powered electricity plants is scheduled to report full-year results. The shares climbed 4.4 percent to 31.18 euros.

SGL Carbon SE (SGL GY): The world’s largest maker of carbon and graphite products plans to report fourth-quarter results. The shares decreased 7.6 percent to 18.60 euros.

Wacker Chemie AG (WCH GY): The maker of chemicals and silicon wafers used in microchips plans to post final fourth- quarter results. The company in January said quarterly profit fell 42 percent on slowing demand in the construction and automobile industries and a one-time charge. The shares fell 6.3 percent to 51.93 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nadja Brandt in Los Angeles at nbrandt@bloomberg.net