Rumors Boost Beiersdorf Stock

Shares of Beiersdorf rose the most in more than four months in Frankfurt trading after Der Aktionaer magazine said that Procter & Gamble Co. may want to buy a stake in the German maker of Nivea skin creams.

Beiersdorf shares gained as much as 3.3%, the steepest intraday advance since Sept. 29. The stock was up 95 cents, or 2.3 percent, at 42.46 euros as of 12:57 p.m., leading advances among the 30 companies in Germany’s benchmark DAX Index.

A combination of Beiersdorf and Cincinnati, Ohio-based P&G would be advantageous for both companies, Der Aktionaer said today on its website, citing an unidentified person with knowledge of the industry.

Beiersdorf spokesman Rolf Lange declined to comment.

In other company news, Nivea’s latest rollouts for Spring 2011 are a body lotion and body wash both infused with Hydra IQ, an exclusive moisturizing technology that works to balance the skin’s moisture level, according to the company.