Bids news were in focus in Europe on Thursday, taking the FTSE Eurofirst 300 up by just 0.1 percent to 1,360.8. Technology stocks were higher once again, while oil saw declines as crude oil prices slipped further.

In the semiconductor sector, STMicroelectronics added 2.6 percent to €12.79 and ASML gained 3 percent to €16.68, while in the telecommunications equipment sector Ericsson was 2.2 percent higher to SKr23.50.

Among oil companies and related service providers, Total fell 0.8 percent to €53.20, while Saipem dropped 1.8 percent to €17.39. Neste Oil declined by 2.5 percent to €24.97, while Statoil was 2.6 percent lower to NKr170.

In the automobile manufacturing sector, Volvo was 5 percent higher to SKr401.50 amid rumors that a group of investors would enter a bid or force the carmaker to return cash to its shareholders. Both Renault, which owns 20 percent of Volvo, and German company Man denied involvement in the rumored moves and both added 2.7 percent on the session to €90.75 and €60.10 respectively.

Wienerberger bid 216p per share for UK rival Baggeridge Brick, sending the Austrian brick maker’s shares 0.8 percent higher to €37.40. Irish brick maker CRH, meanwhile gained 0.7 percent to €25.59.

In the insurance sector, Zurich Financial dropped 1.9 percent to SFr282.50 even though a new report showed that its net profits were up by 9 percent in the first half of the year. The decline came on the news that written premiums were down more than had been expected.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.4 percent higher on Wednesday to close at 1,320.81. Oil stocks helped the gains.

The semiconductor sector saw declines on the day. ASML dropped 0.8 percent to €14.92 and Infineon was down 2.4 percent. STMicroelectronics fell 3.1 percent to €11.63. While its second-quarter report reached expectations, forecasts for the third quarter were lower than investors wanted to hear. Dresdner Kleinwort reconfirmed its “reduce rating” and target share price of €11.50, saying it is looking for a slowing of demand across the sector.

Telecom Italia was down again, by 1.3 percent to €2.07, as investors worried after a second quarter report that disappointed.

In the automobile manufacturing sector, Peugeot fell 10.1 percent to €41 after dropping as low as €40.07 earlier in the session. It cited rising raw materials prices in issuing a downward-revised second-half outlook. Even so, WestLB reiterated its “buy” recommendation.

Gains in the oil sector included a gain of 1.6 percent to €52.55 for Total, while OMV added 3.7 percent to €48.75.

In the steel sector, Arcelor was up 8.6 percent to €43 on the news that Mittal Steel has accumulated 92 percent of Arcelor’s shares as it nears completion of its takeover.

European equity markets saw ups and downs during the week, thanks to the unrest in the Middle East and the continuing string of quarterly reports being issued in various sectors. The FTSE Eurofirst ended the week 1 percent higher than it began, closing on Friday at 1,290.17.

Technology stocks were mixed during the week. Among in the semiconductors sector, Infineon ended the week 0.7 percent lower to €8.32. The German chip manufacturer had been up for most of the week, but ended the week on a low note as it issued a less than pleasing quarterly report. On the other hand, ASML and STMicroelectronics each were 1 percent higher on the week, to €14.76 and €11.77 respectively.

Mobile phone equipment makers Nokia and Ericsson both ended the week higher. Nokia added 4.5 percent to €15.28 despite a disappointing quarterly report, while Ericsson gained 7 percent to SKr22.80 after it was able to win a big contract.

In the electronics sector, Phillips Electronics issued a positive quarterly report early in the week. The good news managed to carry it to an advance of 6.3 percent for the week.

Among pharmaceuticals makers, Roche was up 4 percent during the week to SFr214.80 on good news and broker updates. Bear Stearns increased the drugmaker’s estimate of earnings, while Deutsche Bank upped its target share price from SFr245 to SFr250.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.2 percent higher on Thursday, gaining only 2.3 points on the session to 1,301.6. Quarterly reports and broker recommendations were key factors in the gains and losses of individuals stocks.

Nokia added 0.4 percent to €15.62 after it released its second-quarter earnings report. Before the figures were released, shares in the Finnish mobile handset manufacturer went as high as €16.08. Later on, they fell as low as €15 before rising a bit before the close of trade. Meanwhile, Ericsson was down 0.9 percent to SKr23 ahead of its quarterly report, which is due to be released on Friday.

In the semiconductor sector, chip equipment maker ASML was 2.2 percent lower to €15.56 after a gain of over 6 percent yesterday after it released a positive quarterly report. Despite the report, Rabo Securities downgraded ASML’s shares from “buy” to “hold”.

Swedish engineering company Sandvik dropped 4.2 percent to SKr73.75 after its quarterly report failed to meet expectations. Elsewhere in the sector, Atlas Copco was down 2.5 percent to SKr176.50 after a disappointing guidance was released earlier this week.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Roche added 3.3 percent to SFr214.90, its highest closing price ever, helped by a good quarterly report. Bear Stearns confirmed its “outperform” rating and SFr280 target share price for the drug maker. Dresdner Kleinwort did not change its “sell” rating, but raised Roche’s target share price from SFr170 to SF4180.

Advances in technology stocks and the banking sector took the FTSE Eurofirst 300 up by 2.2 percent on Wednesday to 1,299.19. It was the first day of gains after four consecutive days of losses for the 300.

In Italy, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena was 4.4 percent higher to €4.54 as new rumors circulated that Sanpaolo IMI might be interested in offering. Sanpaolo added 2.8 percent to €13.68. Nordea added 5.5 percent to SKr85.75 after it released a more positive quarterly report than had been expected. Credit Agricole was up 5.6 percent to €30.15 on the possibility that it would be the only bidder for Emporiki Bank of Greece, which dropped 3.7 percent to €25. Bank of Cyprus was rumored to be considering pulling out of the bidding over difficulties involving pension costs; it added 8.8 percent on the session to €7.14.

Among telecommunications companies, Nokia was 5.4 percent higher to €15.56 on an upgrade by Lehman Brothers, from “equal weight” to “overweight”, ahead of its quarterly report, due later in the day. Meanwhile, Ericsson gained 6.9 percent to SKr23.20 on news that it has secured a contract to build a GSM network for Brazilian telecom Vivo.

In the semiconductor sector, Infineon was up 3.2 percent to €8.73, while STMicroelectronics gained 4.9 percent to €12.35 and ASML advanced by 6.4 percent to €15.80 on record net profits in the second quarter.

The European equities markets were down on Thursday after political concerns took crude oil prices to new record highs during the day. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 had its largest one-day decline in a month as it dropped 1.4 percent to 1,293.61.

The semiconductors sector was down on the session. STMicroelectronics was 1.1 percent lower €11.76, while ASML dropped 1.6 percent to €15.03 and Infineon was down by 2.7 percent to €8.52.

Ericsson declined by 1.4 percent to SKr22 despite a report from its joint venture with Sony to make handsets reported strong profits in the second quarter.

In the media sector, Premiere added 19.8 percent to €9.88 after the German pay television business secured a contract to show German league football.

The airlines sector was lower on worries about what effect higher fuel prices would have on earnings. Lufthansa dropped 1.9 percent to €14.09, while Iberia declined by 2.5 percent to €1.96 and Air France-KLM was 3.7 percent lower to €18.03.

Carrefour added 1.6 percent to €47.51 after revealing a second-quarter report that showed sales up 8.5 percent. Merrill Lynch upgraded the French retailer from “neutral” to “buy” and set its target share price at €51. However, ABN Amro downgraded Carrefour from “add” to “hold”.

Weakness in the technology sector send the FTSE Eurofirst 300 0.9 percent lower on Tuesday, to close at 1,309.06. There were serious investor concerns as fears surfaced that quarterly reports could be disappointing.

French engineering group Alstom reported first-quarter sales figures that did not satisfy, while it warned that an increase in orders during the quarter will not be likely to be sustained all year. Shares in Alstom lost 3.5 percent to €66.95.

Among tech companies, Alcatel dropped 5.9 percent to €9.20 despite saying that preliminary quarterly numbers are about where they were expected to be and that its merger with Lucent Technologies would be closed by the end of the year. While Citigroup retained its “buy” recommendation for Alcatel, Dresdner Kleinwort retained a “sell” recommendation and a target share price of €8.60. Elsewhere, Nokia fell 2 percent to €15.14 and Ericsson declined by 3.4 percent to SKr22.60.

Phillips Electronics was down 3.8 percent to €23.06 ahead of its quarterly report, due next Monday.

ASML declined by 2 percent to €15.13 as the semiconductor sector saw losses. STMicroelectronics dropped 2.4 percent to €11.91, while Infineon was down by 2.8 percent to €8.73.

Among gainers on the day, drugmaker Roche ended the session 0.2 percent higher to SFr207.60, and went as high as SFr211, as UBS increased its target share price from SFr230 to SFr270, citing its potential for expansion.

Automobile manufacturer Fiat added 1.7 percent to €10.85 as Goldman Sachs issued a “buy” rating as it resumed coverage of the carmaker.

In Europe on Monday, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.4 percent to 1,321.04 as quarterly earnings reports began to be issued by European companies.

French property group Unibail added 1.7 percent to €135.10 ahead of its half-year earnings report, due later in the month. Merrill Lynch upgraded Unibail to “buy” based on the upward trend of office rents in Paris and issued a target share price of €150.

In the semiconductors sector, STMicroelectronics dropped 0.4 percent to €12.20 after a downgrade from “buy” to “neutral” and a decrease in its target share price from UBS. On the other hand, UBS reissued “buy” ratings for both ASML and Phillips Electronics. ASML added 0.5 percent to €15.44, while Phillips was up 1.1 percent to €23.96. Elsewhere, Infineon gained 1.7 percent to €8.98.

The oil sector saw declines as crude oil prices fell from record highs last week. OMV was down 1.8 percent to €47.71, while Statoil dropped 1.9 percent to NKr183.50.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Roche added 0.6 percent to SFr207.20 after it said that it has filed with European regulators to gain approval for its drug Avastin for use against breast cancer. In addition, the way was cleared via a ruling from the International Trade Commission for Roche to apply for US approval for CERA, an experimental anemia drug.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 declined by 2.1 percent on Friday to 1,363.00, which brought its loss on the week to 2.6 percent. The declines came after closing at its highest level in almost five years on Monday.

The steel sector was mixed. Mittal Steel was down 4.2 percent to €30.73 on Friday despite better than expected profits in the first quarter. It also said that it had gotten anti-trust clearance from the US in its hostile bid for Arcelor. Arcelor, which also reported a positive result for the quarter, lost 2.3 percent to €34.65 on Friday, a drop of 0.9 percent on the week. This came after Arcelor announced a share buyback worth as much as €7.5 billion as part of a defense against the Mittal bid.

On the up side of the sector, ThyssenKrupp added 2 percent Friday and 2.2 percent on the week to €29.09 after going as high as €29.98 earlier in the day on Friday. It had reported significantly better than expected third-quarter results and raised its outlook for the year, prompting West LB to issue an upgrade from “add” to “buy” and to raise the company’s target share price from €27.50 to €36.

The semiconductor sector saw big declines on the week. ASML lost 10 percent to €15.71, while Infineon dropped 8.4 percent to €9.03 and STMicroelectronics fell 6.6 percent to €13.50.

Telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson dropped 7.2 percent during the week to SKr24.50 after it said that margins would not likely improve in the second quarter.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 closed up 1.2 percent to 1,384.01 on Wednesday as the semiconductor sector saw advances. The telecommunications sector was mixed. Banks, meanwhile saw advances.

In the semiconductor sector, ASML added 3.5 percent to €17.40 after it said that its outlook was good for the coming year and announced a share buyback worth €400 million. Even so, Dresdner Kelinwort Wasserstein reiterated its “hold” recommendation” and target share price of €17. Elsewhere in the sector, Infineon was up 3.3 percent to €9.05 and STMicroelectronics advanced by 2 percent to €15.20 on good sales news from Texas Instruments.

Telecoms were mixed, as Nokia gained 0.4 percent to €17.43 in anticipation of an earnings report due to be released later in the day but Ericsson dropped 1.7 percent to SKr28.80 ahead of its quarterly results, to be released on Friday. Nomura reiterated its “sell” recommendation on Ericsson, while Credit Suisse had more positive comments on the Swedish company.

Philips Electronics added 4 percent on the day to €27.32 after losing value on Tuesday despite a positive earnings report.

Among banks, Credit Suisse and ING each added 2.4 percent to SFr74.90 and €32.04, while BNP Paribas gained 1.6 percent to €74.05.

Schering, the German pharmaceuticals company, added 0.3 percent to €86.29 on a 4 percent gain in operating profits in the first quarter.