Arcandor, Beate Uhse, Linde, Volkswagen: German Equity Preview

By Tony Czuczka

May 15 (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 0.3 percent to 4,738.42. The measure, derived from trading in DAX Index futures, provides an estimate of Germany’s benchmark index. The DAX rose 0.2 percent to 4,738.47.

Arcandor AG (ARO GY): The retailer’s banks plan to ask the German government for as much as 700 million euros ($954 million) in loan guarantees, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The shares fell 0.5 percent to 1.93 euros.

Beate Uhse AG (USE GY): The operator of Europe’s largest chain of sex shops is scheduled to release first-quarter results. The share rose 1.3 percent to 78 euro cents.

Linde AG (LIN GY): The world’s second-biggest maker of industrial gases plans to cut about 3,000 jobs this year and is no longer counting on increasing 2009 profit and sales. Linde is holding its annual shareholder meeting. The shares rose 0.73 percent to 59.42 euros.

Medion AG (MDN GY): The consumer electronics company that makes two thirds of its revenue in Germany plans to announce first-quarter results. The company forecast in March that revenue will fell in the first half of 2009 as the recession hurts demand for televisions and DVD players. The shares fell 0.2 percent to 6.54 euros.

MVV Energie AG (MVV1 GY): The operator of seven local German utilities plans to release second-quarter results. Mannheim-based MVV said in January it expected revenue to rise this fiscal year. The shares rose 0.42 percent to 31.15 euros.

SMA Solar Technology AG (S92 GY): The German company that supplied solar power equipment to the Vatican is due to release first-quarter results. Sales fell by as much as 35 percent in the first quarter, board member Pierre-Pascal Urbon said on March 31. The shares were unchanged at 50 euros.

Volkswagen AG (VOW GY): Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest carmaker, aims to double its U.S. market share in three to five years by targeting consumers seeking cars that use less fuel, the company’s U.S. chief executive officer said today. The shares fell 0.9 percent to 222.49 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Czuczka in Berlin at at aczuczka@bloomberg.net