Sarkozy Complaints About Euro's Impact on Exports Not Supported by Data

(Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy
complains the euro's increase to a record against the dollar is
hurting European exports. So far, the numbers don't back him up.

Shipments from the 13-nation euro area rose 9 percent in the
five months through May from a year earlier, the second-fastest
pace in six years. That's because the euro has increased less than
half as much against the currencies of the region's 24 biggest
trading partners as it has against the U.S. dollar.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

French Stocks Advance; France Telecom Gains as Morgan Stanley Lifts Rating

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks rose, paced by
Michelin & Cie. and France Telecom SA.

The CAC 40 Index advanced 28.59, or 0.5 percent, to 5672.55
at 9:26 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index added 0.6 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Algeria says seen no suitable Gaz de France deal

(Reuters) - Algerian said its energy giant Sonatrach has not received any suitable proposal for an alliance with Gaz de France, floated as an alternative to the French utility's merger with rival Suez.

Sonatrach wanted a strategic partnership that could give it access to international reserves, energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil said in an interview to be published on August 1 in Paris-based industry magazine Petrole et Gaz Arabes.


Read more at Reuters Africa

France's CAC 40 Drops; STMicroelectronics, Peugeot, Renault Shares Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks declined, led by
STMicroelectronics NV, PSA Peugeot Citroen SA and Renault SA.

The CAC 40 Index slid 20.02, or 0.3 percent, to 5887.45 at
9:07 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also decreased 0.3
percent.


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Accor, Itesoft, Faurecia, Prismaflex, Viel & Cie: French Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or
fall on the Paris stock exchange. Symbols are in parentheses
after company names. Prices are from the last close.

French stocks fell for the first time in four days, paced
by Total SA, Europe's largest oil refiner. BNP Paribas SA and
Suez SA also retreated.


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French Shares Including Air France, Cap Gemini Climb; Gaz de France Drops

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks including Air France-
KLM Group SA, Europe's largest airline, and Cap Gemini SA, the
region's biggest computer-services company, advanced. Gaz de
France SA paced declining shares.

The CAC 40 Index was little changed at 6117.24 at 10:52
a.m. in Paris, as 25 shares rose and 15 declined. The SBF 120
Index slipped 0.1 percent to 4457.89.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French PM sees no urgency for GDF/Suez merger

(Reuters) - A previous French government engineered the merger in 2006
to fend off the threat of a possible bid for Suez by Italian
utility Enel .




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

UPDATE 1-US's Paulson-new IMF chief should push reform

(Reuters) - BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, July 10 - U.S. Treasury
Secretary Henry Paulson on Tuesday steered clear of endorsing
any particular candidate to take over the International
Monetary Fund but said it should be someone who keeps the drive
to reform it going.




The U.S. Treasury chief, in Brazil at the beginning of a
three-nation tour of Latin America, was asked by reporters
whether he was familiar with the candidacy of former French
Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn who has backing from
some European Union countries.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

French CAC Benchmark Rises, Paced by Air Liquide Shares; Danone Slides

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks advanced, paced by Air
Liquide SA and Electricite de France SA. Groupe Danone SA shares
dropped.

The benchmark CAC 40 added 14.21, or 0.2 percent, to
6118.87 at 9:26 a.m. The SBF120 index also gained 0.2 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Yen Gains Versus Euro Before Bond Payouts by Governments in France, Italy

(Bloomberg) -- The yen rebounded from a record low
against the euro on speculation Japanese investors will
repatriate income from maturing Italian and French government
debt.

The currency also rose against New Zealand's dollar after a
report showed falling business confidence in that nation, which
may deter investors from buying its higher-yielding assets.
Italy is due to pay 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in coupon
and principal today and France will make payments of 17.3
billion euros on July 12, according to data compiled by
Bloomberg.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Danone rises on talk it may sell biscuit unit

(Reuters) - PARIS, July 2 - Shares in Danone rose as much as 3.1 percent on Monday as a source familiar with the matter and media reports said the French food group is looking to sell its biscuit unit to focus on its yoghurts and drinks.



Over the weekend, a trade union source told Reuters Danone's biscuit unit management and trade union representatives would meet on Tuesday to discuss possible changes at LU biscuits, sparking speculation over the division's future.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance; Apple Gains in Europe on IPhone Sales

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures rose before
a report that may show manufacturing growth in June stayed close
to the highest in 13 months.

Apple Inc. shares gained in Europe after first figures
indicated the company's initial iPhone sales met analysts' top
estimates. Costco Wholesale Corp., the largest U.S. warehouse
club, may climb after Goldman, Sachs & Co. recommended buying
the shares. Kraft Foods Inc. dropped after a report that it may
be in discussions with Groupe Danone over the purchase of the
French company's biscuit and cereal products division.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French Stocks Rise For First Time in Six Days; Danone, Total, Axa Advance

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks rose for the first
time in six days, led by Groupe Danone after a press report that
the world's largest yoghurt maker may sell its LU cookies
division. Total SA and Axa SA shares also gained.

The CAC 40 Index added 55.13, or 0.9 percent, to 5996.8 at
9:54 a.m. in Paris. The gauge lost 2.5 percent in the previous
five sessions. The broader SBF 120 Index climbed 40.4, or 0.9
percent, to 4372.66.


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European Stocks Decline; France Telecom, Anglo American Lead Slide

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped as the French
government began selling as much as 3.8 billion euros ($5.1
billion) in shares of France Telecom SA and Cazenove downgraded
mining companies Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc.

London Stock Exchange Group Plc, which agreed to buy Borsa
Italiana SpA for 1.63 billion euros, fell after the bourse was
put on review by Moody's Investors Services for a possible cut in
its debt rating.


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Trade rules waiver needed for small firms - Sarkozy

(Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Saturday that European small businesses should have the same exemption as their U.S. counterparts from global trade rules on the awarding of public contracts.

France has long pushed the European Union's executive commission to secure an exemption for small businesses from World Trade Organisation rules that government contracts should be open to all bidders. It argues that the United States and other countries have waivers to help their local companies.


Read more at Reuters Africa

French Stocks Including EADS and Renault Gain While Danone Shares Slip

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks including European
Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. and Renault SA rose. Groupe
Danone fell.

The CAC 40 Index advanced 7.32, or 0.1 percent, to 6094.47
at 9:04 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also rose 0.1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French Stocks Rise, Led by Danone, Axa, Air Liquide While Sanofi Declines

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks advanced, paced by
Groupe Danone SA, Axa SA and other companies making part of
their revenue in the U.S. after the Federal Reserve said the
world's largest economy is growing without spurring inflation.

Shares in Air Liquide, the world's second-biggest maker of
industrial gases, rose after analysts at Citigroup raised their
price target on the company.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French Stocks Decline, Led by Sanofi-Aventis, Veolia Environnement, Areva

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks declined, paced by
Sanofi-Aventis SA and Veolia Environnement SA

Lagardere SCA shares gained on a positive broker
recommendation.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Renault denies interested in Jaguar, Land Rover

(Reuters) - London's City A.M. newspaper said on Monday that private equity firm Alchemy Partners was lining up a 3 billion-pound bid for Land Rover and Jaguar and other possible bidders included Renault.




Renault shares were 1.1 percent higher at 108.84 euros by 0840 GMT, slightly outpacing the rest of the French blue chip index but broadly in line with the European car sector.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Credit Mutuel arm eyes stake in bank Baer -paper

(Reuters) - UBS, Pasche and CIC, which is owned by French mutual bank
Credit Mutuel, all declined to comment on the report.




UBS, the world's fifth-largest bank, said it would either
sell its stake, valued at around 4 billion Swiss francs , to a single buyer or dispose of it in the market and
that it would use the proceeds to buy back its own shares.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News