Europe Movers: Debenhams, Sky Deutschland, Sodexo, Syngenta

Nigel Thomas
18 Apr, 2013
New York City

Debenhams profit for the first-half slid to

[R]3:00 PM Frankfurt – Debenhams profit for the first-half slid to £95.2 million. Sky Deutschland affirmed positive earnings for the full year. Sodexo profit for the first-half declined 20.5% to €236 million. Syngenta first quarter group sales jumped 6% to $4.57 billion.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index inched lowered 2.2 to 6,242 and in Frankfurt the DAX index slid 0.4% to 29.1 to 7,474.

In Paris, CAC 40 index edged up 0.1% or 3.4 to 3,603.

Debenhams Plc soared 5.7% to 85.10 pence after the UK based apparel and accessory retailer revenue for the first-half ended March 2 grew 3% to £1.28 billion and profit for the period slid to £95.2 million compared to £95.5 million.

The retailer said gross profit for the period rose 1.1% to £201.6 million.

Sky Deutschland AG climbed 3.9% to €4.19 Germany based subscription television provider affirmed positive earnings for the full year.

Sodexo SA plunged 9.6% to €63.99 after the France based catering service provider said revenue in the first half advanced 4.3% to €9.46 billion. Profit declined 20.5% to €236 million compared to €297 million a year ago. Diluted earnings per share dropped €1.56 compared to €1.96.

The caterer said gross profit slid €1.41 billion from €1.44 billion operating profit dropped 14.5% but operating profit before exceptional items were stabled.

Sodexo cuts its annual profit-growth and said organic revenue for fiscal 2013 growth between 1% and 2%

Syngenta AG jumped 3.2% to €322.10 Switzerland based agriculture products maker reported first quarter group sales jumped 6% to $4.57 billion.

Latin America with strong season driven by Brazil, where fungicide sales jump above 30% and sales of insecticides also grew significantly owing to increased.

TalkTalk Telecom Group Plc slipped 1.5% to Rs 257.40 after the UK based telecom regulator Ofcom fined £750,000 for exceeding the number of abandoned and silent calls. The company has made 9,000 silent and abandoned calls to consumers.