Helsinki Shares Slightly Higher At Midday Led By Nokia

HELSINKI (AFX) – Helsinki shares were slightly higher in midday trade led by Nokia amid a lack of market-moving news, brokers said.

At 12.32 pm, the OMX Helsinki 25 was 0.25 pct firmer at 3,125.91 and the OMX Helsinki was up 0.31 pct at 10,425.27 on volume of 471 mln eur.

Nokia was 0.41 pct higher at 17.26 eur, being the most traded share, it led to the market into the black, traders said.

Among industrials, Outokumpu was little changed — down 0.04 pct to 26.13 eur, Wartsila was 0.43 pct lower at 46.45 eur, while Rautaruukki advanced 2.30 pct to 36.01 eur.

Of the paper issues, UPM-Kymmene climbed 0.26 pct to 19.29 eur after it said it has signed an agreement to sell its UPM-Asunnot Oy unit to Finnish-Danish company Waterhouse Real Estate Investment Oy, adding that it will book a 35 mln eur capital gain from the sale.

Peers were also firmer, with Stora Enso up 0.08 pct to 13.06 eur and M-real 0.85 pct lower at 5.83 eur.

Energy stocks were also in positive territories, with Fortum adding 0.32 pct to 22.09 eur and Neste Oil putting on 1.06 pct to 25.69 eur.

Metso — down 2.93 pct to 39.72 eur, Nokian Tyres — 1.31 pct lower at 20.40 eur and Kemira GrowHow — unchanged at 10.00 eur were all trading ex-dividend.

Metso said its Minerals unit has won an 8 mln eur contract to supply France’s GDE Group with a metal recycling plant.

azer.sawiris@thomson.com

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Helsinki shares slightly higher at midday led by Nokia