May 2 (Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose as crude-oil futures in New York held below $50 a barrel, easing concern that higher energy prices will hurt profits. Carmakers such as DaimlerChrysler AG and chemical makers including BASF AG gained.

``The decline in oil is helping,'' said Tony Campione, a fund manager at Agilis Gestion in Paris, which oversees $129 million. He has been buying shares of Michelin & Cie., the world's largest tiremaker, and PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest automaker.

Chip-related companies including Infineon Technologies AG and ASML Holding NV also advanced after the Semiconductor Industry Association said sales of semiconductors worldwide rose 13 percent in the first quarter.

The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index climbed 0.3 percent to 256.83. More than five stocks gained for every one that fell. The Euro Stoxx 50 measure for the 12 nations using the euro added 0.7 percent and the Stoxx 50 rose 0.2 percent.

Benchmarks pared part of their advance after a survey showed the pace of U.S. manufacturing growth slowed more than expected in April from the month before.

Adidas-Salomon AG had the biggest jump in more than three years after the world's second-largest sporting-goods maker agreed to sell its Salomon winter-sports unit to Amer Sports Oyj for 485 million euros ($622.9 million). Shares of Amer, the maker Atomic skis and Wilson tennis and golf gear, surged.

Indexes rose in all of the 15 Western European markets that were open except Luxembourg and Iceland. Stock exchanges in the U.K., Ireland and Greece were closed for holidays.

Regional Indexes

Germany's DAX Index advanced 0.9 percent and France's CAC 40 Index increased 0.7 percent. Spain's IBEX 35 Index had the biggest gain, up 1.3 percent, paced by Grupo Ferrovial SA. Euro Stoxx 50 futures expiring in June added 0.6 percent.

In April, the Stoxx 600 slid 2.3 percent and the Stoxx 50 fell 1.7 percent, the biggest monthly losses since March 2003.

The Institute for Supply Management said today that its factory index fell to 53.3 from 55.2 in March. Readings higher than 50 indicate growth. The supply institute's index was forecast to slip to 55, based on the median forecast.

Crude oil for June delivery dropped 0.2 percent to $49.60 a barrel in New York. The contract earlier slid as much as 1.4 percent on speculation slower economic growth in the U.S., Europe and Japan and increased output will bolster inventories. Prices have slumped 16 percent since reaching a record high of $58.28 a month ago.

``Turn Sentiment''

``The lower oil price is helping turn sentiment positive,'' said Patrick Casselman, who oversees about $649 million in stocks at KBC Asset Management in Brussels. He's been buying shares of ASML and ASM International NV, Europe's biggest makers of semiconductor equipment.

DaimlerChrysler, the world's fifth-largest automaker, rose 0.8 percent to 30.59 euros. BASF, the No. 1 chemical maker, added 1.4 percent to 50.81 euros. Chemical makers use oil-derived raw materials.

Worldwide chip sales reached $55.3 billion in the first three months of the year, San Jose, California-based SIA said. Revenue may rise in the second quarter from the previous period, according to the SIA.

Infineon, Europe's largest chipmaker, rose 2.3 percent to 6.58 euros. ASML gained 0.9 percent to 11.21 euros.

Adidas-Salomon advanced 7.7 percent to 129.30 euros, its steepest gain since Sept. 2001 and its highest in nearly seven years. The company, based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, is selling brands including Salomon to focus on the more profitable business of soccer shoes and golf clubs.

2005 Profit

It also said 2005 profit will increase at the higher end of its 10 percent to 15 percent forecast. First-quarter net income rose 43 percent to 105 million euros, higher than the 95-million euro median estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Helsinki-based Amer soared 7.6 percent to 13.80 euros, the biggest advance in three years.

Ferrovial, Spain's second-largest construction company, advanced 3.3 percent to 45.50 euros. It is among Spanish builders that may bid for a contract worth as much as 4 billion euros to build an underground railway link in Dublin, La Gaceta reported, without identifying who provided the information.

Capitalia SpA rose 3.9 percent to 4.29 euros on speculation ABN Amro Holding NV, the largest Dutch bank, will bid for Italy's fourth-largest lender if it fails to buy Banca Antonveneta SpA.

``ABN could now jump on Capitalia,'' said Daniele Tolusso, a trader at Uniprof Sim in Milan, who heard the rumor today.

A Capitalia spokesman, who asked not be identified, declined to comment. A message left for an ABN Amro spokesman wasn't immediately returned.

ABN Amro Slips

ABN Amro slipped 1.9 percent to 18.49 euros. Antonveneta investors elected 15 candidates from rival Banca Popolare di Lodi Scrl onto its board, boosting Lodi's chances of its own planned bid and blocking ABN Amro's offer.

ABN Amro shares also traded without the right to the second- half dividend of 50 cents.

Antonveneta rose 0.3 percent to 25.93 euros and Lodi advanced 1.2 percent to 7.87 euros.

Versatel Telecom International NV, the second-largest Dutch provider of phone services, jumped 24 percent to 2.19 euros. The company said it's in talks with Belgacom SA, Belgium's state- controlled telephone company, and may receive a takeover offer. Belgacom stock slipped 0.8 percent to 29.36 euros.

Scania AB, Europe's fourth-largest truckmaker, and Fondiaria- SAI SpA, an Italian property and casualty insurer, fell 4.9 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. Buyers of the shares today aren't entitled to the latest dividends.

Etablissements Maurel & Prom SA, a Paris-based oil exploration company, rose 4.8 percent to 15.84 euros. It said production in Gabon may climb to as much as 9,500 barrels a day at the end of 2006, up from 750 barrels. Current total production capacity is between 26,000 barrels and 27,000 barrels a day, the company said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kotaro Miyata in London at kmiyata2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 2, 2005 12:26 EDT