Europe Earnings: Air France KLM, Sainsbury, Mothercare, Kion, Persimmon

Nigel Thomas
08 Jan, 2014
New York City

Air France Klm said passenger traffic in December rose 3%. Sainsbury third-quarter sales grew 2.7%. Mothercare group sales declined 6%. Goldman Sachs and KKR sold 10.8% Kion stake. Persimmon revenue in the year soared 21%.

[R]3:40 PM Frankfurt – Air France Klm said passenger traffic in December rose 3%. Sainsbury third-quarter sales grew 2.7%. Mothercare group sales declined 6%. Goldman Sachs and KKR sold 10.8% Kion stake. Persimmon revenue in the year soared 21%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index decreased 0.4% or 26.33 to 6,729 and in Frankfurt the DAX index slid 0.1% or 11.68 to 9,495.

In Paris, CAC 40 index fell 0.2% or 8.76 to 4,254.

Air France KLM SA climbed 6.1% to €8.64 after the airline company reported passenger traffic in December increased 3.2% and a capacity rose of 2.1%, monthly load factor grew 0.9 points to 82.8% from 81.8% from December 2012.

The carrier added cargo traffic in December dropped 3.7% and capacity fell 1.5%. On the U.S. network, traffic rose by 6.5% for capacity up by 6.3%. The group carried 6.2 million passengers in December.

J Sainsbury Plc dropped 2.4% to 360.01 pence after the U.K.-based grocery retailer said sales in the third-quarter ending on January 4 increased 2.7% and comparable sales rose 0.2%.

The retailer lowered sales forecast for the year.

Mothercare Plc tumbled 29.1% to 298 pence after the U.K.-based maternity and baby goods retailer said group sales declined 6.1% and worldwide sales fell 4.4% in the quarter ending on January 4 compared to a year ago.

Kion Group AG rose 0.3% to €30.18 after Goldman Sachs and private equity firm KKR sold 10.8% stake in Germany-based fork-lift maker at a price of €29.50 per share for about €315 million or $428 million.

Persimmon Plc gained 0.2% to 1,296 pence after the U.K.-based home builder reported revenue in the year soared 21% to £2.1 billion.

The new home sales jumped 16% to 11,528 homes with average selling price for 2013 grew 4% to about £180,900 from £173,823 a year earlier.

Tate & Lyle Plc declined 2.7% to 779 pence after the company tax abatement on various projects of corn-processing facility in Lafayette, Indiana has approved by the local redevelopment commission.