ASML, Carrefour, Reckitt Benckiser Sale Soar; Akzo, Metro Sales Fall

Sarla Buch
19 Oct, 2016
New York City

Akzo Nobel said revenues fell 4% on weak sales. ASML net surged 11% on 17% increase in revenues. Carrefour said sales rose 1%. Metro AG, Germany based retailer offered positive Christmas season sales. Reckitt Benckiser said revenues surged 17%.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Akzo Nobel said revenues fell 4% on weak sales. ASML net surged 11% on 17% increase in revenues. Carrefour said sales rose 1%. Metro AG, Germany based retailer offered positive Christmas season sales. Reckitt Benckiser said revenues surged 17%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index rose 14.24 or 0.2% to 7,021.06 and in Frankfurt the DAX index gained 30.44 or 0.3% to 10,661.36.

In Paris, CAC 40 index increased 19.19 or 0.4% to 4,528.10.

Akzo Nobel N.V slumped 2.6% to €60.47 after the Netherlands-based paints and specialty chemicals maker reported revenues in the third-quarter ending in September dropped 4% from a year ago to €3.6 billion.

Net income in the quarter was flat from a year ago to €285 million and earnings per share decreased to €1.13 from €1.15.

The paint maker said weak sales growth in decorative paints, coatings and specialty chemicals mainly due to lower costs, adverse currency effects and uncertain market environment in several countries and segments.

However, operating income in the quarter jumped 4% to €454 million from a year ago period.

ASML Holding NV advanced 2.8% to €95.43 after the Netherlands-based chip maker said total net sales in the third-quarter ending in September soared 16.8% from a year ago to €1.8 billion.

Net income in the quarter surged 10.8% from a year ago to €395.9 million compared to the €322.4 million and diluted earnings per share increased to €0.93 from €0.75.

ASML forecasted net sales in the fourth-quarter between €1.7 billion and €1.8 billion and gross margin in the range of 47% to 48%.

Carrefour SA soared 5.2% to €95.43 after France-based hypermarkets operator reported sales in the third-quarter ending in September increased 1.1% from a year ago to €21.78 billion.

The retailer said sales growth in Latin America and in domestic French markets improvements and international sales jumped 4.5% but sales in Asia continued to fall.

Carrefour said comparable sales in Argentina, Brazil and China surged 18%, 12% and 7.8% respectively.

Metro AG jumped 2.1% to €95.43 after Germany-based discount retail reported sales in the fourth-quarter declined 0.5% from a year ago to €14.2 billion and comparable sales edged up 0.1%.

In the fiscal year, Metro said sales slumped 1.4% to €58.4 billion but comparable sales increased 0.2%.

Metro forecasted a ""favorable"" Christmas business and also reaffirmed its operating profit estimate that may exceed reported €1.51 billion in a year ago.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc declined 2.7% to 7,131 pence after the U.K.-based health, hygiene and home products maker said net revenues in the third-quarter ending in September surged 17% from a year ago to £2.56 billion on favorable foreign exchange and comparable sales increased 2%.