Hannover, ING, Natixis Net Jump; Alstom, Lafarge Profit Decline

Nigel Thomas
05 Nov, 2014
New York City

Alstom profit tumbled 31% to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Alstom profit tumbled 31% to €263 million but revenue climbed 13%. Hannover profit soared 10% to €695 million. ING net surged 625% to €928 million. Lafarge profit plunged 28% to €218 million. M&S net declined 7% to £226 million. Natixis net climbed 21% to €318 million.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index jumped 1.1% or 72.10 to 6,526.07 and in Frankfurt the DAX index climbed 1.6% or 148.01 to 9,314.48.

In Paris, CAC 40 index increased 1.6% or 64.55 to 4,194.74.

Alstom SA gained 1.9% to €28.40 after the France-based transport and energy infrastructure developer reported revenue in the first-half ending in September climbed 13% to €3.06 billion from €2.70 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the period tumbled 31% from a year ago to €263 million compared to €381 million and diluted earnings per share dropped to €0.82 from €1.20.

During the quarter, new orders surged 134% to €6.41 billion and orders backlog climbed 19% to €26.93 billion, representing 53 months of sales.

Hannover Rueck SE increased 1.5% to €67.50 after the Germany-based reinsurer said group gross written premium in the third-quarter ending in September rose 1.6% to €10.70 billion from €10.54 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the period soared 10.3% from a year ago to €695.4 million compared to €630.2 million and earnings per share jumped 10.3% to €5.77 from €5.23.

ING Groep N.V rose 0.2% to €25.62 after the Netherlands-based bank said total revenues in the third-quarter ending in September jumped 4.5% to €3.94 billion from €3.77 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the period surged 625% from a year ago to €928 million compared to €128 million and diluted earnings per share dropped to €0.82 from €1.20.

In the quarter, the lender set aside €322 million for the provision for loan losses, down from €552 million a year ago and €405 million in the previous quarter.

Lafarge SA climbed 2.1% to €53.76 after the France-based building materials producer reported sales in the third-quarter ending in September dropped 2% to €3.64 billion from €3.70 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the period plunged 28% from a year ago to €218 million compared to €304 million and diluted earnings per share slumped to €0.75 from €1.05.

The company intends to cost cuts by €600 million in this year and €550 million in 2015.

Marks and Spencer Group Plc surged 9.3% to 442.20 pence after the U.K.-based clothing retailer said group sales in the first-half ending onSeptember 27 rose 1% to £4.90 billion from £4.88 billion a year ago period.

Profit in the period declined 6.7% from a year ago to £225.6 million compared to £241.9 million and diluted earnings per share 13.8 pence from 15.3 pence.

Natixis SA jumped 1.9% to €5.41 after the France-based banking, financial and investment service provider said net revenues in the third-quarter ending in September increased 3% to €1.87 billion from €1.82 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the period climbed 21% from a year ago to €318 million compared to €263 million and earnings per share jumped 10.3% to €5.77 from €5.23.

Roche Holding Ltd increased 1.5% to 286.20 francs after the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical maker plans to invest 450 million francs in next three years to establish a new diagnostic manufacturing facility for clinical tests in Suzhou, China.