LONDON (ShareCast) - European markets were prepared to react phlegmatically to some middling US jobs data, but discord among G20 nations over increasing IMF resources was a whole different matter, and stocks fell sharply in the afternoon session.

The CAC was down 72 points at 3,124 in Paris while the DAX was off 167 points at 5,966 in Frankfurt.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged that the Group of 20 (G20) has not reached an agreement to supply the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with additional resources. She added that a large number of G20 countries said they would participate in the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

European Council president Herman Van Rompuy and EC president Jose Manuel Barroso contradicted Merkel. however, by claiming that an agreement on increasing IMF funds is expected soon but that finance ministers will now have to work out the details of how to boost the IMF resources. Barroso said that a trust fund could be created with IMF resources but it would not only be destined to European countries.

In other economic news, German factory orders fell 4.3% in September, on a seasonally and inflation adjusted basis, surprising analysts, who had expected a 0.1% increase.

Network equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent was a major drag on the CAC index after disappointing third quarter figures. Revenue fell 6.8% from a year earlier to €3.8bn and the company warned that turnover in the fourth quarter is likely to be lower than previously envisaged. Guidance on operating margin was also lowered, with the company predicting the full-year margin will be around 4% of sales.

In Germany, Commerzbank was the big faller after its third quarter numbers came up short. The bank made a net loss of €687m versus a profit of €113m a year earlier, as it took a €798m hit on the value of the Greek sovereign bonds it has on its books.

Deutsche Lufthansa and International Airlines Group (IAG) have agreed, in principle, for ownership of Lufthansa subsidiary BMI to pass to IAG.

IAG shares were up in Madrid but down in London after the airlien said revenue in the third quarter of 2011 rose 2.2% to €4,490m from €4,392m the year before. The company warned that high fuel costs continue to have a significant impact on our business.

Underlying operating profit was down by just over a third to €351m from €528m the year before, while underlying profit before tax fell 34.4% to €316m from €482m last year.

French cement giant Lafarge has announced a plan to save €500m next year while elevated material costs weighed on third quarter results. The news cheered investors, who propelled the stock to the top of the CAC leader-board.

Net income fell 10% to €336m while operating profit fell 9% to €750m. Sales rose 1% to €4.21bn, driven by solid sales in emerging markets.

Luxury goods firm Hermes International proved that the rich are always with us, as it upped its full-year revenue growth target to 15%-16% from its previous target of up to 14%.

CAC 40 - Risers
Essilor International (EI) € 53.05 +1.40%
Lafarge (LG) € 29.56 +0.46%

CAC 40 - Fallers
Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) € 1.67 -17.06%
Accor (AC) € 22.01 -6.40%
Veolia Environnement (VIE) € 9.78 -5.08%
Schneider Electric (SU) € 40.44 -4.55%
Vallourec (VK) € 44.85 -4.00%
EDF (EDF) € 20.93 -3.81%
Peugeot (UG) € 14.68 -3.74%
Societe Generale (GLE) € 17.92 -3.71%
GDF Suez (GSZ) € 20.08 -3.69%
AXA (CS) € 10.54 -3.61%

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