Europe Earnings: AstraZeneca, Aggreko, Abertis, Lloyds, Shell

Nigel Thomas
01 Aug, 2013
New York City

AstraZeneca revenue and profit declined. Aggreko profit-before-tax for the first-half slid 3% to

[R]3:20 PM Frankfurt – AstraZeneca revenue and profit declined. Aggreko profit-before-tax for the first-half slid 3% to £105 million. Abertis agreed to sell London’s Luton airport to a consortium for £433 million. Lloyds net for the first-half swung to a profit of £1.58 billion. Shell profit declined.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index gained 0.6% or 40.79 to 6,662 and in Frankfurt the DAX index climbed 1.5% or 125.62 to 8,402.

In Paris, CAC 40 index jumped 1% or 40.44 to 4,033.

AstraZeneca Plc slid 0.4% to 3,321.50 pence after the UK based biopharmaceutical reported revenue in the second quarter dropped 10% to $12.6 billion from $14.01 billion a year earlier. Profit for the quarter declined 43% to $1.84 billion compared to $3.23 billion and diluted earnings per share slumped 66 cents from $1.26.

Aggreko Plc plunged 7% to 1,656 pence after the UK based power and temperature control solution provider said group revenue for the first-half increased 4% to £760 million from £734 million a year earlier. Profit-before-tax for the period slid 3% to £105 million compared to £108 million and diluted earnings per share slipped 4% to 39.27 pence from 40.91 pence a year ago.

The company added Temperature control revenues during the period climbed 12% and local business underlying revenue jumped 9%.

Abertis Infraestructuras SA, the Spain based infrastructure company agreed to sell London based Luton airport to a consortium of Span based Grupo Aena and AXA the asset manager for €502 million or £433 million.

Lloyds Banking Group Plc, surged 8.4% to 74.26 pence after the UK based financial service provider reported total income for the first-half jumped 5% to £22.07 billion from £16.26 billion a year earlier. Net for the period swung to a profit £1.58 billion compared to a loss of a £662 million and diluted earnings per share swung to 2.2 pence from a loss of 1 penny.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc declined 5.3% to 2,120.50 pence after the UK and Holland based oil and gas explorer reported revenue in the second quarter dropped 3.8% to $112.7 billion from $117.1 billion a year earlier. Net income for the quarter plummeted 57% to $1.74 billion compared to $4.08 billion and diluted earnings per share declined 27 cents from 66 cents a year ago.