AFX European summary - midday jan 18

AFX European summary - midday jan 18

	Published : Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:03 By : Agencies Print this Story

LONDON (AFX) - AFX European summary - midday

LONDON (AFX) - UK blue chips continued to trade higher at midday, with Enterprise Inns topping the gainers, while Wall Street is expected to open firm as renewed dollar strength offsets US inflation data concerns, dealers said.

At 11.57 am, the FTSE 100 index was up 20.1 points at 6,224.6, albeit off an earlier high of 6,244.4, while the broader indices were also higher. Volume was moderate, with 1.07 bln shares changing hands in 165,879 deals.

FRANKFURT (AFX) - German shares are higher midmorning as heavyweight auto and chemicals stocks gained ground, although there was some caution ahead of important US data later today.

At 11.35 am, the DAX was up 28.97 points or 0.43 pct to 6,730.67, trading between 6,716.62 and 6,737.98, with the MDAX adding 30.41 points or 0.32 pct to 9,580.17. The TecDAX gained 8.26 points or 1.04 pct to 799.07, and the DAX futures contract added 19.50 points or 0.29 pct to 6,767.50.

PARIS (AFX) - Share prices rebounded from yesterday's decline, thanks in part to a series of positive corporate sales reports, dealers said.

At 12.01 pm, the CAC-40 index was up 41.25 points or 0.74 pct at 5,603.03, on volume of 2.5 bln eur.

MILAN (AFX) - Share prices were higher in midday trade, with Eni and other oil sector plays leading the advance as crude oil prices continued to rebound, while Alitalia was supported by reports about potential bidders, dealers said.

At 12.01 pm, the Mibtel index rose 0.41 pct to 32,257 points and the S&P/Mib was up 0.45 pct at 41,935, while volumes were 1.5 bln eur.

MADRID (AFX) - Share prices were higher at midday, with domestically focused banks in the limelight amid full-year earnings reports, while the main blue chips were firm, dealers said.

At 12.45 pm, the IBEX-35 index added 36.2 points to 14,331.2, on turnover of about 1.5 bln eur.

ZURICH (AFX) - Share prices were slightly higher midday, supported by fresh buying interest in heavyweights Nestle and Roche, while Novartis continued under pressure as its fourth quarter profits failed to meet the market's consensus, dealers said.

At 12.20 pm, the Swiss Market Index was 24.05 points higher at 9,128.65, and the Swiss Performance Index was up 20.60 points at 7,217.85.