UPDATE 1-NORDIC STOCKS - Factors to watch on July 2
(Adds A.P. Moller, Millicom, updates Amer)
HELSINKI, July 2 (Reuters) - The following stocks may be affected by newspaper reports and other factors on Thursday:
A.P. MOLLER-MAERSK (MAERSKb.CO)
Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk is close to deciding on the future of ferry operator Norfolkline which has been for sale for nearly two years, business daily Borsen said. Maersk Tankers chief Soren Skou, who is in charge of selling Norfolkline, said a solution will be found in the next several months or the sale process could be called off.
For more on the company, double click on [MAERSKb.CO]
MILLICOM (MICC.O) (MICsdb.ST)
The telecom operator said its review of its Asian operations was going as planned and that a "a number of parties" had expressed interest in the business.
For more on the company, double click [MICC.O]
TELIASONERA (TLSN.ST)
The Nordic telecom operator will not go unscathed from the economic downturn that has mired its Swedish home market, the company's top executive Lars Nyberg said in an interview with business daily Dagens Industri.
"Now there is talk unemployment will hit 11 percent in Sweden and that will certainly affect our revenues," Chief Executive Lars Nyberg was quoted as saying.
Nyberg also said the operator's main focus was growing in its existing markets. "Sure, it is a buyers market right now and we have a strong financial position, but to enter new markets is risky," he said.
For more on the company, double click on [TLSN.ST]
AMER SPORTS (AMEAS.HE)
Helsinki bourse said SEB Enskilda had carried out the sale of Icelandic Novator's 20.11 percent stake in sporting goods firm Amer Sports to a large group of international and Finnish institutional investors.
Novator's 14,688,900 shares were sold for 7 euros per share ($9.88), the bourse said in a statement.
For more on the company, double click on [AMEAS.HE]
ALMA MEDIA (ALN1V.HE) Finnish publisher Ilkka (ILK1S.HE) said late on Wednesday it had agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in larger rival Alma Media, raising its holding to 20.4 percent. [ID:nL1246920]
With the 34.6 million euro ($48.68 million) deal, which Ilkka said it plans to finance through a 40 million euros share issue, the firm will become the largest shareholder in Alma Media, Finland's second largest publisher.
For more on the companies, double click on [ALN1V.HE]
[ILK1S.HE]
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(Additional reporting by Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm newsrooms) (Helsinki Newsroom; +358-9-6805-0244) ($1=.7107 Euro)
