STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Wienerberger rises on takeover talk

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11:52GMT 27March2009-Wienerberger shares rise on takeover talk

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Shares in Austrian brickmaker Wienerberger (WBSV.VI) rise 12.5 percent to 6.57 euros, outperforming the DJ Stoxx Construction and Materials index .SXOP which is down 0.2 percent, on takeover speculation.

"On the one hand, we are seeing short covering and on the other hand takeover fantasies," says a Vienna-based trader.

The trader adds the takeover speculation concerns Irish group CRH (CRH.I) (CRH.L), one of the world's biggest suppliers to builders, which last week raised 1.28 billion euros in a rights issue, giving it ammunition for acquisition opportunities created by a squeeze on rivals.

Wienerberger, the world's largest brickmaker, is one of the few Austrian companies without a large strategic shareholder to shield it from an approach, making it a permanent subject of takeover speculation.

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Reuters Messaging rm://alexandra.schwarz.reuters.com@reuters.net

sarah.marsh.reuters.com@reuters.net

11:38GMT 27March2009-Technip drops as Merrill cuts to "neutral"

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Shares in French oil services company Technip (TECF.PA) fall 4.7 percent, underperforming the European oil sector .SXEP which is down 0.7 percent, after Merrill Lynch cuts its rating on the stock to "neutral" from "buy". "Year-to-date, Technip has strongly outperformed the sector," writes the broker, which points the stock's 31 percent performance against the European oil services sector average of 12 percent this year.

Reuters Messaging rm://michel.rose.reuters.com@reuters.net

11:31GMT 27March2009-SIG falls as RBS cuts to "hold"