(Corrects value of stake in first paragraph.)

April 5 (Bloomberg) -- German stocks including Deutsche Lufthansa AG dropped after HVB Group sold a 140.6 million-euro stake ($173 million) in Europe's second-biggest airline.

DaimlerChrysler AG gained. The world's fifth-biggest automaker plans to sell a stake in European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. valued at 2 billion euros ($2.45 billion).

The DAX dropped 1.46, or less than 0.1 percent, to 6012.39 as of 12:11 a.m. in Frankfurt, the second straight decline. DAX June futures were little changed. The HDAX Index of the country's 110 biggest companies also fell less than 0.1 percent.

Lufthansa dropped 1.3 percent to 14.79 euros, the most in more than 2 months. HVB, the German lender bought by UniCredit SpA last year, sold 9.5 million shares for 14.80 euros apiece, or about 2 percent of the airline's outstanding shares, HVB spokesman Knut Hansen said.

DaimlerChrysler AG gained 1.8 percent to 48.88 euros. The company said yesterday it will sell a 7.5 percent stake in EADS next year after the aerospace company's shares increased more than five-fold in the past three years.

``Clever move,'' said Stefan Bauknecht, who manages 1.2 billion euros at Frankfurt-based DWS Investment. DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche ``is showing that he's serious about increasing profitability.''

The following stocks also rose or fell in the German market. Stock symbols are in parentheses.

Depfa Bank Plc (DEP GY), Europe's second-largest public- finance provider, rose 2.1 percent to a record 15.78 euros, gaining for a second day. Depfa shares climbed 6.6 percent yesterday after the Handelsblatt newspaper reported the company is getting takeover inquiries. The report cited an interview with Chief Executive Officer Gerhard Bruckermann. Depfa spokesman Henrik Hannemann later confirmed the comments.

Ersol Solar Energy AG (ES6 GY), a maker of solar cells, climbed 4.6 percent to 58.30 euros. Earnings before interest and taxes will rise to as much as 30 million euros this year, the company said in a statement today. It previously forecast earnings by that measure of more than 20.2 million euros.

Linde AG (LIN GY) slipped 1.9 percent to 69.10 euros after UBS AG cut the industrial gas maker's share recommendation to ``reduce'' from ``neutral'', citing ``bad timing'' in its takeover of U.K. rival BOC Group Plc.

``We don't think it's quite the heavenly match at the operational level that management asserts,'' said Thomas Gilbert, a London-based UBS analyst, who added Linde is paying a high price and the timing is bad as interest rates are rising.

Gilbert also cited concern about the timing, costs and financing of the purchase.

Nordex AG (NDX1 GY) rose 9.4 percent to 9.71 euros. The windmill maker increased its full-year sales forecast by 15 percent as soaring power prices spur new orders. Earnings before interest and taxes will rise to 13.8 million euros, spokesman Ralf Peters said by phone today. Nordex previously forecast earnings of 10 million euros for 2006.

Praktiker AG (PRA GY), Germany's No. 2 home-improvement retailer, slipped 4.6 percent to 21.85 euros. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut the companies estimate for 2006 earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization by 5.3 percent, citing a ``weak start'' this year and the likelihood that one-time gains won't recur.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Fournier in Frankfurt at Cfournier3@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 5, 2006 09:35 EDT