(Adds Danske Bank, Hexagon, Meda and updates Aker Yards,
Elektrobit, HKScan)
HELSINKI, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The following stocks may be
affected by newspaper reports and others factors on Friday:
AKER YARDS AKY.OL
The Norwegian ship-maker on Friday reported a much
lower-than-expected core profit (EBITDA) of 72 million Norwegian
crowns ($13.92 million) for the second quarter. Analysts polled
by Reuters had forecast EBITDA of 245 million crowns.
The company said EBITDA had been hit by delays to offshore
vessel projects.
Aker made an EBITDA loss of 153 million a year ago as it
restructured its Finnish cruise-ship operations.
For a full story, see [nOSL001435]
For more on the company, double click on [AKY.OL]
DANSKE BANK (DANSKE.CO)
The Danish banking group is negotiating with IBM (IBM.N)
over payment for damages caused by problems in its computer
system, Danske chief executive was quoted as saying on Friday.
"We have asked IBM to clarify what they have done to
eliminate the problems," CEO Peter Straarup told Finnish daily
Helsingin Sanomat. "We are negotiating with IBM also about
damages."
Danske Bank's Finnish subsidiary Sampo bank has lost 30,000
customers after it changed IT systems. The new system, supplied
by IBM, has been plagued with problems.
For more on the company, double click on [DANSKE.CO]
HEXAGON (HEXAb.ST)
The technology group reported a higher-than-expected pretax
profit of 657 million Swedish crowns ($108 million) for the
second quarter, up from 555 million a year earlier. It repeated
a 2008 forecast for 15 percent growth in earnings per share
after tax.
For more on the company, double click on [HEXAb.ST]
MEDA (MEDAa.ST)
The Swedish pharmaceutical firm reported second-quarter
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) of 946 million crowns, in line with consensus and above
the 675 million achieved in the same period the previous year.
The EBITDA figure excluded restructuring costs.
The acquisitive firm this week said it had bought much of
the European operations of American Valeant and had established
joint ventures with Valeant in Canada, Mexico and Australia.
For more on the company, double click on [MEDAa.ST]
CERMAQ (CEQ.OL)
The Norwegian fish farmer is due to publish second-quarter
results before market open at 0700 GMT. The company is expected
to post an operating loss of 8 million crowns due to disease
problems in its fish stocks in Chile.
For more on the company, double click on [CEQ.OL]
FINNAIR (FIA1S.HE)
The Finnish air carrier is expected to report a 74 percent
fall from a year ago in April-June pretax profit to 9 million
euros ($13.92 million). Finnair results are due at 0600 GMT.
For more on the company, double click on [FIA1S.HE]
ELEKTROBIT EBG1V.HE
The Finnish electronics group reported on Friday a
bigger-than-expected operating loss, due to bad performance in
its automotive unit.
Elektrobit's April-June operating loss more than doubled to
13.3 million euros ($20.6 million) from a loss of 6.6 million
the previous year. This compared with an average forecast for a
loss of 4 million in Reuters Estimates.
For more on the company, double click on [EBG1V.HE]
HKSCAN (HKSAV.HE)
The Finnish food group reported a bigger-than-expected fall
in second-quarter operating profit, hit by a difficult pork
market. Profit fell to 4.4 million euros ($6.8 million) from
15.2 million the previous year and compared with an average
forecast of 9.5 million in Reuters Estimates.
The company repeated it expects 2008 earnings to fall
year-on-year.
For more on the company, double click on [HKSAV.HE]
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(Additional reporting by Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm
newsrooms)
(Helsinki Newsroom; +358-9-6805-0244)
($1=5.525 Crown)
($1=6.083 Swedish Crown)
($1=5.172 Norwegian Crown)
($1=.6466 Euro)
