Semiconductors gain in Europe

The FTSE Eurofirst 300, higher early in the session, ended 0.3 percent lower to 1,522.87. The Eurofirst was hurt late by a slow start to the New York trading day.

The semiconductors sector saw gains in the day. Infineon added 2.4 percent to €11, while STMicroelectronics gained 2.5 percent to €14.38. STM was helped by positive comments from brokers that took the focus off the chipmaker’s disappointing quarterly results, announced on Wednesday. WestLB said that the new figures should be looked at in a wider context and hiked STM’s target share price from €16 to €18.

Nokia added 5 percent to €16.26 after reporting record mobile phone sales in the fourth quarter and amid mixed broker sentiment. While Merrill Lynch is advising its customers to buy the cell phone maker, Dresdner Kleinwort is recommending that its clients sell the stock.

Automobile manufacturers declined on new of losses by Ford Motor. BMW fell 1.4 percent to €45.99. DaimlerChrysler and Porsche were each 2.3 percent lower, to €48.64 and €1,010 respectively, with Credit Suisse lowering Porsche’s rating from “outperform” to “neutral” and suggesting that investors take profits. Peugot was down 3.3 percent to €52.

Airlines also saw losses. Iberia fell 1 percent to €3.01, while Air France-KLM dropped 3.9 percent to €32 and Lufthansa was 5.6 percent lower to €20.76 after it said that passenger yields would not grow significantly this year.

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