Europe Movers: Ahold, Bouygues, Merck, National Grid, Air Berlin

Arthi Gupta
15 Nov, 2012
New York City

Zurich Insurance net income plunged 62% to $477 million and Ahold earnings slumped 46% to

[R]11:20 AM Frankfurt – Zurich Insurance net income plunged 62% to $477 million and Ahold earnings slumped 46% to €139 million in the third quarter. H & M total sales rose 4% in October and Bouygues quarterly sales rose 7% to €9.09 billion.[/R]

Ablynx NV advanced 1.8% to €5.20 after the biopharmaceutical company reported first nine months total revenues increased 34% to €22.2 million.

Aéroports De Paris SA decreased 0.8% to €59.24 after the airport group said first nine months consolidated revenue rose 4.9% to €1.97 billion from a year ago.

Air Berlin Plc slid 0.6% to €1.54 after the airline reported third quarter revenue increased 1.4% over the previous year to €1,395.1 million. Net income in the quarter soared to €66.6 million from €30.2 million in the same quarter last year.

Antofagasta plc edged lower 2.2% to 1,216 pence after the Chile-based copper miner reported for the nine-months ended September 30, turnover rose 16.3% to $4.85 billion from last year. EBITDA improved 13% to $2.83 billion.

Bouygues SA gained 2.5% to €18.22 after the French industrial group reported third quarter sales rose 7% to €9.09 billion. Net profit for the quarter declined 29% to €286 million from €403 million in the prior year quarter.

Koninklijke Ahold NV dipped 0.7% to €9.50 after the Dutch supermarkets operator reported third quarter net sales increased 11% to €7.6 billion. Net income for the quarter fell 46% to €139 million or 13 cents per share from €257 million or 23 cents per share a year ago.

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB dropped 2.7% to SEK 213.70 after the Swedish apparel retailer said October total sales, including Value Added Tax, in local currencies increased 4% from last year, and sales in comparable units fell 5%.

Merck KGaA rose 1.2% to €99.17 after the German drugmaker reported third quarter total revenues grew 12.2% to €2.84 billion from the same quarter last year. Net income for the quarter declined 17.2% to €185.5 million from €223.9 million in the previous year.

National Grid Plc declined 1.4% to 684 pence after the electricity and gas company said first-half revenue declined to £6.08 billion from £6.31 billion in the prior year. Profit for the period surged to £1.05 billion or 28.7 pence per share compared to £795 million or 21.8 pence per share last year.

Zurich Insurance Group AG slumped 3.7% to Sfr223.60 after the insurer reported third quarter net income plunged 62% to $477 million from $1.24 billion last year. Business operating profit declined 34% to $733 million.