UPDATE 3-NORDIC STOCKS - Factors to watch on Sept 18
(Updates Swedbank, adds Novo Nordisk, Vestas, and EDB Business Partner)
HELSINKI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The following stocks may be affected by newspaper reports and other factors on Friday: SWEDBANK (SWEDa.ST)
The Swedish bank stuck on Friday to its overall outlook given in its second quarter report, but said business in the Baltics and Ukraine was still challenging.
Swedbank said in a statement issued in conjunction with its prospectus for its planned $2.1 billion rights issue that preliminary operating results for the period ending in August were in line with expectations.
Net interest income had also developed according to expectations, it said.
For more on the company, double click on [SWEDa.ST]
RAUTARUUKKI (RTRKS.HE)
The head of the Finnish steelmaker was quoted as saying the industry faces a slow recovery from the recession.
"The freefall has stopped and demand has leveled off at pretty low levels compared to where we were," CEO Sakari Tamminen, said in a interview with Bloomberg. "We need to be prepared for a slow recovery."
"The big question now is when will end-user demand develop and at what level the recovery will be when it takes place. Uncertainty in financing is still there and affecting especially investment decisions," Tamminen added.
For more on the company, double click on [RTRKS.HE]
NOVO NORDISK (NOVOb.CO)
The world's biggest maker of insulin is planning to invest about 10 billion Danish crowns ($1.98 billion) in the development of new products within the area of inflammation, daily Borsen said.
For more on the company, double click on [NOVOb.CO]
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS (VWS.CO)
The world's biggest maker of wind turbines could see its position threatened by Siemens, the leading producer of offshore turbines, says daily Berlingske Tidende. Siemens is challenging Vestas and aims to grab half of the growing offshore market.
For more on the company, double click on [VWS.CO]
NOKIA (NOK1V.HE)
The top mobile phone maker's smaller smartphone rival Palm said overnight it shipped 823,000 smartphones -- mainly its new Pre model -- in the fiscal first quarter, with many Wall Street estimates in the 700,000 to 800,000 unit range.
But Palm forecast second-quarter non-GAAP revenue of $240-270 million, lagging an average forecast for revenue of just over $345 million.
For more on the company, double click on [NOK1V.HE]
EDB BUSINESS PARNER (EDBASA.OL)
The chief executive of Telenor (TEL.OL), the biggest owner of EDB stock, is open for a potential sale of EDB shares if Nordic IT services companies consolidate, according to daily Finansavisen.
For more on the company, double click on [EDBASA.OL]
AUTOLIV (ALIVsdb.ST)
The world's largest maker of vehicle airbags and seatbelts holds its capital markets day.
For more on the company, double click on [ALIVsdb.ST]
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(Additional reporting by Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm newsrooms) (Helsinki Newsroom; +358-9-6805-0244) ($1=5.043 DANISH CROWN)
