FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Good quarterly figures from US competitor Davita and its outlook also drove up demand for FMC shares on Wednesday. The shares of the German dialysis provider, which is also heavily involved in the USA, had risen by four percent by midday.

As a result, the shares of Fresenius, which holds a 32 percent stake in FMC, also rose. With an increase of 2.3 percent, Fresenius was the leader in the Dax. FMC was at least among the leaders in the MDax behind Delivery Hero and Hensoldt.

Davita reported an increase in profits for the fourth quarter that exceeded market estimates. The company also gave an outlook for this year which, according to JPMorgen expert David Adlington, promises significant potential for the analyst consensus.

One trader emphasized that the consensus estimate for adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was at the lower end of the company's new forecast range. Davita's sales in the final quarter were better than expected. Analyst AJ Rice from the Swiss bank UBS spoke of a "promising outlook", which suggests growth above the market trend.

The share price of Davita, which competes with FMC on the US market, rose by up to 4.7 percent. Davita had presented its figures the previous evening after the close of trading in the USA./tih/bek/mis