Bouygues Lifts Outlook on Twin Strength, Unibail Net Plunges

Sarla Buch
30 Aug, 2018
New York City

Bouygues profit jumped after strong operating profit in telecom and construction segments. Elekta profit declined 16% despite revenues soared 10%. Hays net soared on 12% jump in revenues. Unibail Rodamco net plunged 56%.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt –Bouygues profit jumped after strong operating profit in telecom and construction segments. Elekta profit declined 16% despite revenues soared 10%. Hays net soared on 12% jump in revenues. Unibail Rodamco net plunged 56%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index fell 45.27 or 0.6% to 7,519.03 and in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 7.44 to 12,534.86.

In Paris, CAC 40 index slipped 51.75 or 0.4% to 5,509.93.

Bouygues SA jumped 4.5% to €39.04 after France-based construction, media, and telecom sectors services provider reported sales in the first-half ending in June advanced 4% from a year ago to €15.7 billion.

Net profit in the period jumped 6.1% to €209 million from €197 million in the same period a year ago.

The conglomerate said higher profit was driven by strong operating profit in telecom and construction segments.

In the first-half, telecom business added net 901,000 mobile customers and construction business booked €6.05 billion in new order.

Bouygues reaffirmed improved operating profit and the operating margin in the construction businesses in the fiscal year 2018 and double-digit operating margin in fiscal 2019.

Elekta AB plunged 8.1% to 119.20 Swedish kronor after Sweden-based radio-surgery equipment maker said net sales in the first-quarter ending in July soared 10% from a year ago to 2.8 billion kronor.

Net income in the period declined 16% to 166 million kronor from 199 million kronor in the same period a year ago and diluted earnings per share dropped to 0.43 kronor from 0.52 kronor.

The radio-surgery equipment maker said as of July 31, total orders surged 12% to 3.2 billion kronor driven by 23% increase in North and South America and 15% in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Elekta forecasted fiscal 2019 net sales growth of about 7% and operating margin of about 20%.

Hays Plc slumped 4.7% to 193.30 pence after the U.K.-based recruitment and human resources services provider said net fees in the year ending in June surged 12% from a year ago to £1.1 billion.

Net income in the year soared 19.2% to £165.8 million from £139.1 million in the same period a year ago and diluted earnings per share advanced to 11.30 pence from 9.54 pence.

HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG traded unchanged at €63.50 after Germany-based financial services provider said net fees income in the first-half ending in June plunged 18.7% from a year ago to €210.8 million.

Net profit in the period tumbled 46.2% to €55 million form €102.3 million in the same period a year ago.

The lender said pre-tax profit in the period declined 45.4% to €83.6 million led by the higher investment expenses and difficult market environment and administrative expenses increased 1.6% to €290.3 million.

However, as of June 30, total assets soared 16.7% to €28.3 billion from €24.3 billion in December 2017.

Unibail Rodamco NV plummeted 5.7% to €179.55 after France-based commercial property developer said total rental income in the first-half ending in June jumped 8.9% from a year ago to €989.4 million.

Net profit in the period plunged 55.8% to €751.9 million form €1.7 billion in the same period a year ago and diluted earnings per share dropped to €5.58 from €13.97.