Europe Movers: BNP Paribas, Mediaset, Metro, Renault, Rio, Telenet

Barry Randall
18 Jan, 2013
New York City

Renault SA increased 2% after the French automaker reported sales outlook. Mediaset SpA, Italian broadcaster soared 6% and extended two-day gain to 17% on a broker recommendation. Spectris Plc soared 7% after comparable sales rose 4% in the December quarter. Telenet declined 3%.

Banks in Paris trading closed higher after Morgan Stanley swung to quarterly profit. BNP Paribas increased 1.6% and Societe Generale and Credit Agricole gained.

Broker downgrade dragged ABB in Stockholm and Enel in Milan trading.

Mediaset SpA, the Italy based broadcaster soared 6% to 2.02 euros after a Berenberg Bank lifted its prices target to 2.60 and reaffirmed its buy rating.

Metro AG, the Germany’s largest retailer declined 2% after the stock was cut to “underperform” at Credit Suisse.

Ophir Energy increased 2.7% to 540 pence on the hopes that the UK based company may discover oil and gas fields in Gabon and Tanzania.

Renault SA increased 2% after the French automaker said it plans to return to sales growth this year.

Rio Tinto gained 2.5% to 3,523 pence on the speculation that the company may return cash to shareholders a day after the miner forced out its chief executive and took a charge of $14 billion on two failed acquisitions.

Spectris Plc gained 7% to 2,169 pence after the maker manufacturing testing equipment maker said comparable sales increased 4% in the fourth quarter from a year ago.

Telenet, the Belgian cable operator declined 3% to 35.83 euros after Liberty Global said it will not revise its offer of 35 euros a share for the remaining 50% stake in the company it does not own for 2 billion euros.