Arcontech Share Discussion Threads

[very quick] 25/11/2004 19:08

MM's are having a laugh with this share.

[ariane] 19/11/2004 09:16

LONDON, November 18 (newratings.com) - Analyst Dirk Schlamp of DZ Bank maintains his "buy" rating on Salzgitter (SZG.ETR), while raising his estimates for the company. The target price has been raised from €11.50 to €15.50.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company reported its 3Q04 results significantly ahead of the estimates and the consensus, driven by the performance of its steel segment. The analyst expects Salzgitter to post healthy results throughout 2005, since the demand for steel is likely to remain high. The EPS estimates for 2004 and 2005 have been raised from €1.77 to €2.52 and from €1.33 to €2.04, respectively.

[very quick] 18/11/2004 13:59

Put this one in the draw and forget it till full results next year. LOL????

[melchor] 18/11/2004 13:40

VERY QUICK

Typically, like my deal a couple of days ago, they've shown yours also as a sell!

[very quick] 18/11/2004 12:36

When are the interim results out here. Anyone care to confirm this.

[very quick] 18/11/2004 12:25

Just bought 100k at 0.950p Great value at these prices. this is worth at least 1.5p LOL????

[melchor] 17/11/2004 08:39

They did mention at the last, that due to the impositions of Red and RedAlert, they were thinking of moving away from the training aspect ... maybe this is it.

However, there seems to have been a change in auditors also ... not sure what to read in all this ... in any case I continue to top up at these prices.

[sdavis] 16/11/2004 16:02

Also got another 100k at 0,95....could not resist at that price seeing as the issue of new equityt at 1.5p was only in August!

Lack of contract news is what has caused the slow decline: hope we get something in the results.

Who mentioned re-structuring? Bit concerning!

[melchor] 16/11/2004 14:33

That 100,000 trade was NOT a sell ... i shld know, it's mine, and it's a BUY.

[grupo guitarlumber] 16/11/2004 14:17

LONDON, November 16 (newratings.com) – Analyst Charles Spencer of Morgan Stanley reiterates his "overweight" rating on Arcelor (ARR.ETR). The target price has been raised from €19 to €20.

In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company reported its 3Q04 results ahead of the estimates and the consensus. Arcelor has raised its guidance for 2004, the analyst says. The company is Morgan Stanley's top-pick in the European steel sector.

[marmiesz] 16/11/2004 11:31

Spoke to Kumar, the FD, who told me that due to the restructring of the group, the appointment of new auditors the results will be out in the next few weeks. Sounds like a well run organisation and a general feeling of things are going well. Quiet confidence with which I am content.
All good things,
Marmie.

[fatgreek] 16/11/2004 09:23

a good source told me to buy so i did, thanks sdavis

[sdavis] 16/11/2004 09:17

I have not heard anything ..... no problem to ask.

I bought a few 'cos I reckon the results will be OK, showing growth and reducing cash burn. Simple really. I may also be wrong.

[fatgreek] 15/11/2004 14:48

sdavis, sorry to be a pain but have you heard anything on arc today cos I cant seem to find anything, i took a punt on them 2 weeks back and dont have a clue whats happening...thanks for the help,

[grupo guitarlumber] 15/11/2004 12:41

(updates with sales, breakdown of results, 9-months figures)
PARIS (AFX) - Arcelor posted third quarter earnings ahead of forecasts,
driven by growth in long carbon steel and the distribution sector and amid
continued strong demand in China.
Net profit soared to 629 mln from 101 mln a year earlier, ahead of a 461-600
mln eur range of analyst forecasts. EPS was 1.09 eur, up from 0.21.
EBITDA was 1.098 bln eur, up from 416 mln last time and at the top end of
analysts forecasts averaging 1.064 bln, while the gross margin doubled to 15.35
pct from 7.09 pct a year earlier.
Looking ahead, Arcelor forecast a new round of price increases on the back
of further rises in raw materials costs.
Third quarter sales were 7.152 bln eur, up 21.9 pct from 5.869 bln, boosted
by higher average selling prices for steel since July, notably flat carbon, and
on increase volumes compared to a low base period.
Net debt at end-September was 2.372 mln eur, down from 3.527 bln at
end-June.
Arcelor said economic growth "remains sustained" and "while some adjustments
have been observed in Asia", demand in China is still strong.
It said real consumption is expected to continue to grow during the next
months and inventory levels are "normal".
Spot selling prices for flat carbon steels in Europe are still lower than
those achieved in North America despite price increases for the third quarter
that aimed at aligning European prices to world levels.
The gap between prices in the two regions is currently narrowing and that it
is not affecting volumes.
Arcelor warned that raw material and freight costs are expected to increase
further from current "very high levels", but that it expects to pass these
increases on after long-term contract renegotiations with clients in the auto,
packaging and appliances sectors.
Over nine months, Arcelor net profit was 1.494 bln eur, up from 459 mln, and
EBITDA was 2.877 bln, up from 1.692 bln, on sales of 21.745 bln from 19.451 bln.
EPS was 2.87 eur, up from 0.96.
[e-mail]
mrg/jms

[fatgreek] 15/11/2004 09:44

when are the results due??

[sdavis] 15/11/2004 09:31

Bought another 190k, still to show.

Hoping for decent results!

[grupo] 14/11/2004 17:59

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Salzgitter AG wants to remain independent, chief executive
Wolfgang Leese told Handelsblatt newspaper, quashing speculation of a
pan-European steel tie-up.
"We want to grow and position ourselves as a niche provider in the market.
And the successful development in the past few years has shown that we are in
the position to reach our goals on our own," Leese said.
Last month, speculation surfaced on a merger between Italy's Riva, Austria's
Voestalpine AG, Salzgitter and German rival ThyssenKrupp AG.
Leese said that Salzgitter profits from the consolidation process within the
industry even though it does not want to participate in it.
"Most of our customers let themselves only reluctantly become dependent on a
few steel producers," Leese said.
Salzgitter plans to post a pretax profit of at least 200 mln eur this year.
das/jsa

[ariane] 12/11/2004 06:26

Arcelor May Post Record Profit as Dolle Raises Steel Prices
Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Arcelor SA, the world's biggest steelmaker, may report a record third-quarter profit of 482 million euros ($623 million), benefiting from three price increases since January.

Net income at the Luxembourg-based company rose more than fourfold from 101 million euros a year earlier, based on the median estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Export prices for European hot-rolled coil steel almost doubled this year to a record $592.50 a metric ton, according to Metal Bulletin, an industry publication.

Arcelor, created in a three-way merger in 2002, plans a fifth consecutive quarterly increase in January, along with other European steelmakers. Chief Executive Officer Guy Dolle said he may raise prices 20 percent in annual contract talks with customers as Chinese demand drives up costs of raw materials such as iron ore and coal.

``This is a vital period for contract negotiations and all indications are they should be able to get their price rises through,'' said Gary Clarke, who manages about $500 million in assets in London, including the Gartmore European Focus Fund, which has Arcelor as its top steel stock pick. ``Profitability in 2005 could be better than in 2004.''

Arcelor will be overtaken by Mittal Steel Co. NV in terms of production once Indian-born billionaire Lakshmi Mittal completes the planned combination of his assets and the purchase of International Steel Group Inc. next year. Larger steel companies have greater clout for demanding price concessions from mining companies that supply raw materials and with carmakers and other customers that buy their products.

Shares Rise

Arcelor's shares have gained 20 percent this year, more than the 7.6 increase in France's CAC-40 Index and the 10 percent gain in Spain's IBEX 35 Index. Arcelor is valued at 10.2 billion euros.

Dolle declined to comment. The company is scheduled to report earnings Nov. 15. Twenty-three of 25 analysts who made a recommendation in the past six months rated Arcelor shares a ``buy.'' Two rated it ``hold.''

European steelmakers will likely enjoy higher prices until at least the third quarter of next year, Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank AG analyst Pascal Spano said in a Nov. 4 report. Next year should be at least as profitable as 2004 for the steel industry, Dolle said at a conference in London yesterday.

Arcelor will report a pretax profit margin of 11 percent for the third quarter, up from 3 percent a year ago, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Charles Spencer said in an Oct. 12 report.

Renault, Whirlpool

Arcelor provides the metal for one in three European cars, including those made by Renault SA, France's No. 2 carmaker. It also sells metal to London-based Rexam Plc, the world's No. 1 beverage-can maker, and Benton Harbor, Michigan-based Whirlpool Corp., the world's largest maker of appliances. Arcelor doesn't disclose contract terms for customers.

Dolle, 62, expects raw-materials costs next year to rise about the same amount as this year, when expressed in euros, he said in an Oct. 14 interview. Materials such as coking coal and iron ore are priced on an annual basis and in dollars, with benchmark contracts usually set by April 1.

Arcelor paid about 20 percent more for its coking coal and iron ore in 2003. The euro has gained 2.6 percent against the dollar this year.

Costs of iron ore and coking coal are rising in part because suppliers, such as Melbourne-based BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, haven't been able to boost output fast enough to meet demand from steelmakers.

Steel Production

World steel production rose 8.7 percent in the first nine months of this year, adding an amount equal to combined output from Germany, France and the U.K., according to the Brussels- based International Iron & Steel Institute. China, the world's biggest steelmaker, increased production by 22 percent.

``Expectations are certainly for raw material prices to rise further,'' said Ignace de Coene, who manages $180 million in assets at Fortis Investment Management in Paris, including Arcelor shares. ``That will certainly be used in the price negotiations for steel.''

Arcelor's third-quarter sales probably rose about 20 percent to 6.95 billion euros, Morgan Stanley said in its October report. Profit will drop from the second quarter, when it almost quadrupled to a record 631 million euros. Summer vacations in Europe usually cut into third-quarter earnings.

Dolle said in an Oct. 3 interview he expected to win a first- quarter steel-price increase similar to the fourth quarter's. Arcelor raised spot prices by as much as 7 percent for the period, after a 20 percent gain in the third quarter.

The International Monetary Fund this month has cut its 2005 growth forecasts for European nations such as Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

``The situation isn't as favorable as three months ago,'' said Julien Onillon, an analyst at HSBC Securities in Paris. ``They'll be fairly happy to maintain their fourth-quarter prices.''

Brazilian Mills

Dolle is boosting Arcelor's stakes in Brazilian mills to 100 percent where possible to boost profits. Steelmaking costs about a quarter less in Brazil than in the European Union.

The cost of insuring Arcelor debt using credit-default swaps has plunged in the past year, according to Morgan Stanley prices on Bloomberg. It costs 44,500 euros a year to cover 10 million euros of debt for five years, down from about 113,000 euros this time last year. A credit default swap insures against a borrower's defaulting on bond or loan payments.

Arcelor was formed in 2002 from the merger of Usinor SA of France, Arbed SA of Luxembourg and Aceralia Corporacion Siderurgica SA of Spain. Dolle, who joined Usinor in 1980, was paid 832,500 euros last year.

[grupo guitarlumber] 11/11/2004 08:40

LONDON, November 10 (newratings.com) – Analyst Pascal Spano of Deutsche Bank reiterates his "buy" rating on Arcelor (ARR.ETR). The target price has been raised from €17.50 to €21.


In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company is likely to report record results for 3Q04 on Monday next week. Deutsche Bank expects a sequential increase in Arcelor's average flat steel prices to have more than offset the adverse impact of increased raw material costs and a seasonal decline in the company's volumes. The analyst says that Arcelor's stock offers an attractive investment opportunity ahead of the announcement of the company's 3Q04 results.

[grupo guitarlumber] 10/11/2004 11:36

PARIS (AFX) - Arcelor chief executive Guy Dolle said the group plans to
raise steel prices for clients with annual contracts by at least 20 pct when
these contracts are renewed in 2005.
Dolle, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, also said Arcelor intends
to take a controlling stake in Brazil's Acesita sometime in the second half of
2005.
Arcelor currently holds 28 pct of Acesita.
[e-mail]
afp/js/hjp