HELSINKI (AFX) - Helsinki shares are expected to open higher after Wall Street's firmer close, with Nokia in focus ahead of its first quarter results released later today, dealers said.
Yesterday, the OMX Helsinki 25 index ended up 1.52 pct at 2,718.97. The OMX Helsinki index closed 1.07 pct higher at 9,494.13 on 1.2 bln eur turnover, while the OMX Helsinki CAP portfolio index was up 1.28 pct at 5,068.15.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
TODAY
-Nokia Q1 results (1.00 pm)
TOMORROW
-Nothing scheduled
TODAY'S PRESS
-Argentina's President calls on Finnish government to intervene to resolve issues surrounding Metsae-Botnia's mill in Uruguay (various)
MACROECONOMIC
-Finnish Feb GDP up 0.5 pct from Jan, up 2.4 pct yr-on-yr
MARKET SENTIMENT
-Outokumpu upgraded to 'hold' from 'sell' at Deutsche Bank
-Huhtamaeki downgraded to 'hold' from 'buy' at Deutsche Bank
-Last night in New York, Nokia's ADR price closed 0.98 pct higher at the equivalent of 17.60 eur, compared with 17.43 eur at the Helsinki market close.
-Among other Finnish shares traded in the US, Stora Enso closed 0.16 pct firmer at 12.57 eur, UPM-Kymmene was up 0.62 pct to 19.51 eur and Metso was up 0.77 pct to 31.47 eur. james.etheridge@afxnews.com je/hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited