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To: SusieQ1065 who wrote (78715)	10/18/2002 2:12:58 AM
From: 2MAR$	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 208838

I would give you a special reward ...in person ;-) ( but I can't catch moonbeams or hold the waters of the moon in my hands ) European stocks -- Factors to watch on October 19 LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - European equities are set to sprint higher at the open on Friday, led by software makers such as SAP <SAPG.DE> and Misys <MSY.L> after the world's biggest software maker Microsoft's <MSFT.O> quarterly results beat expectations. However Sweden's Ericsson <ERICb.ST> is seen missing out on the rally after it revised downward its forecast for the sales of its key product. The stock traded on Instinet at 4.60 crowns from a close of 4.96 crowns on Thursday. Vivendi Universal <V.N><EAUG.PA> is also seen under pressure on a report that the cash-strapped Franco-American media group is seeking finance to gain control of Cegetel, the French telecoms group being stalked by Vodafone <VOD.L>. Financial bookmakers in London expect Britain's FTSE 100 <.FTSE> to open 40-60 points firmer and France's CAC-40 <.FCHI> to start 55 points higher. They saw Germany's DAX <.GDAXI> up 30-55 points. Financial bookmakers in London expect Britain's FTSE 100 <.FTSE> to open 55 points firmer and Germany's DAX <.GDAXI> up 50 points. In New York the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed 2.97 percent firmer and the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> ended 3.24 percent higher. The Dow Jones was 2.6 percent stronger when most European bourses closed while the Nasdaq was about 3.2 percent firmer at that time. U.S. equity index futures suggested stocks will build on their overnight gains at the open on Wall Street. Gains after the end of official trading were spurred by news that U.S. software giant, Microsoft's earnings more than doubled, topping cautious Wall Street estimates, as revenues surged on a new software licensing plan. Microsoft also raised its full-year revenue and earnings outlook. Microsoft's earnings came the same day that Germany's SAP, Europe's biggest software maker's shares shot up 25 percent after third-quarter earnings came in well ahead of expectations. Stocks likely to move include: ERICSSON <ERICb.ST> The Swedish telecoms equipment maker is seen opening lower after it revised downward its forecast for the sales of its key product, mobile systems, but said it still aimed to return to profit sometime in 2003. Ericsson, the world's biggest producer of mobile networks, reported a pre-tax loss of 3.9 billion crowns for the third quarter against market consensus of a 3.2 billion loss. For related news click on [ERICb.ST] ALCATEL <CGEP.PA> NOKIA <NOK1V.HE> Shares in European telecom equipment suppliers will be driven by results from Ericsson but it is also worth noting that Nortel Networks <NT.TO, one of the world's largest telecom equipment makers, posted quarterly results above expectations and published an optimistic outlook. For related news click on [nL18126519] DANONE <DANO.PA> Currency effects and divestments combined to push sales at the French food group down nearly five percent over the first nine months of the year, a touch below forecasts. For related news click on [nL1762001] VALEO <VLOF.PA> Europe's largest listed car-parts supplier posted a seven percent rise in third-quarter operating profit and said it expected its performance to continue to improve. Valeo said its operating profit rose to 105 million euros from 98 million a year earlier -- compared against forecasts for 104.4 million. For related news click on [nL17348612] SAP <SAPG.DE> MISYS <MSY.L> European software groups are seen higher after Microsoft's earnings more than doubled, topping cautious Wall Street estimates and the group raised its full-year revenue and earnings outlook. Investors in SAP will be pleased the European group's closer peer, Peoplesoft <PSFT.O> also beat expectations. For related news click on [nL18117864] [nN17243781] VIVENDI UNIVERSAL <V.N><EAUG.PA> VODAFONE <VOD.L> The Franco-American media group is in discussions with its bankers for financial backing to allow it to gain control of Cegetel, the French telecoms group being stalked by Vodafone, the Financial Times reported. Vivendi is thought to be considering mounting a bid for BT Group's<BT.L> 26 percent stake in Cegetel, a move that would thwart Vodafone's attempts to gain control, the newspaper said in an unsourced report. For related news click on [nL1745855] SERONO <SEOZ.VX>, GLAXOSMITHKLINE <GSK.L> Investors will be positioning themselves in healthcare and biotechs ahead of earnings from U.S. peers Biogen <BGEN.O> and Merck <MRK.N>. For related news click on [BGEN.O] [MRK.N] FRANCE TELECOM <FTE.PA>, MOBILCOM <MOBG.DE> MobilCom, the cash-strapped German telecom group could require a second government bail-out in two months, the Financial Times said. Former partner France Telecom will have to assume responsibility for MobilCom's 4.7 billion euro debt, it said. For related news click on [FTE.PA] [MOBG.DE] CLARINS <CLRP.PA> The French cosmetics firm will report first-quarter sales after the French market closes. For related news click on [CLRP.PA] ROLLS-ROYCE <RR.L> The world's No. 2 civil jet engine maker said it had named the chief of oilfield services company Schlumberger Ltd <SLB.N> Euan Baird to replace Ralph Robins as chairman. For related news click on [nL18256035] ABBEY NATIONAL <ANL.L> Britain's sixth largest bank is on Friday expected to name the former president of UBS Warburg <UBSZn.VX> Luqman Arnold as its new chief executive, the Financial Times reported. For related news click on [nL17473239] U.S. DATA U.S. consumer prices in September, due for release at 1230 GMT, are seen up 0.2 percent month-on-month. Ex-food/energy inflation is also forecast to rise by 0.2 percent. ((Alison Tudor, European Stock Markets team +44 20 7542 8434, fax +44 20 7542 3722, alison.tudor@reuters.com)) ((Xtra clients: Double click on topnews.session.rservices.com to see Top News Pages in multimedia Web format. If you cannot access the page, ask your IT department to check your Internet firewall settings. To see the technical advisory, click on <C9991>.)) REUTERS * end of story *