CRH in

Nigel Thomas
02 Feb, 2015
New York City

CRH agreed to acquire assets from cement maker Holcim and Lafarge worth about

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – CRH agreed to acquire assets from cement maker Holcim and Lafarge worth about €6.5 billion. Gurit net sales surged 19%. Julius Baer profit soared 22% to 586 million francs. Ryanair net swung to profit to €49 million.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index slid 0.1% or 7.58 to 6,741.82 and in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 0.1% or 17.93 to 10,712.25.

In Paris, CAC 40 index fell 0.1% or 6.62 to 4,597.63.

CRH Plc soared 5.6% to 1,692 pence after the Ireland-based building material provider agreed to acquire assets from cement maker Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge SA worth about €6.5 billion or $7.34 billion.

Gurit Holding AG gained 1.6% to 335.25 Swiss francs after the Switzerland-based gel coats, adhesives and resin maker said net sales in the year ending in November surged 19.4% to 335.8 million francs from 281.1 million francs a year ago period.

The company forecasted operating profit for the year may between 4% and 4.5%.

Julius Baer Gruppe AG surged 8.9% to 40.96 Swiss francs after the Switzerland-based financial service provider reported revenues in the year ending in December soared 16% to 2.55 billion francs compared to 2.20 billion francs in the same period last year.

Net profit in the year soared 22% to 586 million francs or compared to 480 million francs and earnings per share jumped to 2.68 francs per share from 2.24 francs.

Ryanair Holdings plc plunged 3.8% to 10.1 pence after the Ireland-based airline company reported revenues in the third-quarter ending in December climbed 17% to €1.1 billion from €964 million a year ago period.

Net in the quarter swung to profit from a year ago to €49 million compared to a loss of €35 million and diluted earnings per share swung to 3.53 pence from a loss of 2.50 pence per share.

The airline lifted net profit forecast for the year for the fifth time in the range of €840 million to € 850 million.

RM Plc rose 0.2% to 156.25 pence after the U.K.-based educational service provider said total revenues in the year ending in November plunged 22.6% to £202.5 million from £261.8 million a year ago period

Net profit in the year climbed 88% from a year ago to £11.6 million compared to £6.2 million and diluted earnings per share climbed to 13 pence from 6.6 pence.