Shares in French bank BNP Paribas fell on Wednesday on rumours over a possible capital increase and uncertainty over its acquisition of the Belgian operations of finance group Fortis.

Shares in BNP Paribas closed down 11.2 percent at 36.245 euros, taking losses so far this week to more than 22 percent.

Shares in French bank BNP Parisbas fell in morning trading on Wednesday on rumours over a possible capital increase and uncertainty over its acquisition of the Belgian operations of finance group Fortis.

BNP`s shares were showing a drop of 8.50 percent to 37.34 euros in an overall Paris market which was down 0.80 percent. The stock had fallen by 5.13 percent on Tuesday.

Shares in French bank BNP Parisbas fell in morning trading on Wednesday on rumours over a possible capital increase and uncertainty over its acquisition of the Belgian operations of finance group Fortis.

BNP`s shares were showing a drop of 8.50 percent to 37.34 euros in an overall Paris market which was down 0.80 percent. The stock had fallen by 5.13 percent on Tuesday.

PARIS, Aug 30, 2007 (AFP) - The chief executive of French bank BNP Paribas denied Thursday that his company was to blame for financial market turbulance that has swept the globe this month.

'Stop making BNP Paribas the trigger of August's events,' Baudouin Prot told the French daily Le Monde in an interview, adding that the bank's announcement early this month that it had suspended three investment funds was 'overplayed'.

PARIS, Aug 24, 2007 (AFP) - The chief executive of French bank BNP Paribas said Friday that it was 'too early' to estimate the impact of US subprime home loans on the bank's results.

The group added to international financial market turmoil on August 7 when it suspended three investment funds exposed to subprime home loans, which are mortgages granted to high-risk borrowers.

PARIS, Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) - French banking giant BNP Paribas on Thursday suspended three of its funds exposed to US high-risk property loans, sparking further turmoil in world stock markets.

BNP Paribas Investment Partners, a unit of the French bank, said the funds -- Parvest Dynamic ABS, BNP Paribas ABS Euribor and BNP Paribas ABS Eonia -- will accept no redemptions or subscriptions until further notice, the bank said.

PARIS, Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) - BNP Paribas Investment Partners, a unit of French bank BNP Paribas, said Thursday it had suspended three of its funds amid concerns sparked by the crisis in the US subprime mortgage.

The funds -- Parvest Dynamic ABS, BNP Paribas ABS Euribor and BNP Paribas ABS Eonia -- will accept no redemptions or subscriptions until further notice, the bank said.

Dealers in Hong Kong said share prices there closed lower Thursday as caution re-emerged in late trade after the announcement by BNP.

PARIS, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - French insurance giants AXA and BNP Paribas unit UkrSibbank have agreed jointly to buy 99 percent of Ukraine's sixth-biggest damage insurer, Vesko.

The financial details of the transaction were not revealed in a joint statement.

They said Axa and BNP Paribas will make the acquisition through a joint venture, Ukrainian Insurance Alliance. Combined with UIA's existing activity, the move will give the French companies a third place on the Ukrainian market, with seven percent.