French Stocks: Credit Agricole, L'Oreal, Accor, Bastide, Bureau Veritas
France’s CAC 40 Index climbed 0.7 percent to 3,475.03 at the 5:30 p.m. close in Paris, the gauge’s first advance in three days. The SBF 120 Index rose 0.8 percent.
The following shares were among the most active in the French equity market today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.
Accor SA (AC FP) surged 3.9 percent to 24.41 euros, the stock’s biggest gain since July 21. Europe’s largest hotelier posted a narrower first-half loss and forecast that its full- year operating profit will grow as much as 65 percent after sales rose at its higher-priced establishments.
Bastide Le Confort Medical SA (BLC FP) advanced 2.3 percent to 8.17 euros. The home health-care operator said fiscal fourth- quarter sales rose to 25.4 million euros ($32.3 million) from 22.6 million euros a year earlier.
BioAlliance Pharma SA (BIO FP) soared 3.2 percent to 6.16 euros, the stock’s highest price since April. The pharmaceutical company reported first-half net income of 10.6 million euros compared with a year-earlier loss of 8.81 million euros.
Bureau Veritas SA (BVI FP) gained 2.7 percent to 46.61 euros. The world’s second-largest goods inspection company said first-half net income rose 7.9 percent to 140.8 million euros and forecast second-half sales growth of about 10 percent.
Credit Agricole SA (ACA FP) added 2.7 percent to 10.17 euros, the stock’s first gain in three days. France’s largest bank by branches said second-quarter profit surged 89 percent, more than analysts estimated, as earnings at the corporate- and investment-banking unit helped cushion losses in Greece.
Gemalto NV (GTO FP) fell 3.2 percent to 28.51 euros. The world’s largest maker of smartcards said first-half net income dropped 7.4 percent on tax expenses.
L’Oreal SA (OR FP), the best performing stock on the CAC 40, gained 3.9 percent to 78.69 euros. The world’s largest cosmetics maker said first-half net income rose 21 percent to 1.32 billion euros, helped by growth in Asia and Latin America and recovering sales of luxury fragrances.
First-half operating profit rose 21 percent to 1.67 billion euros, the Paris-based company said yesterday after markets closed, beating the 1.6 billion-euro average estimate of six analysts.
To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Evans in London at Pevans15@bloomberg.net
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