Heinrich von Pierer, chief executive of the German technology group Siemens AG gives a thumbs up prior to the annual shareholder meeting in Munich, February 24.The company said it had started the year better than expected, and that it was on course to float its shares in the United States in early 2001. Siemens shares climbed more than three percent in early trading to stand at 190.80 euros by 0830 GMT. The benchmark DAX share index was up 1.17 percent at 7,789.09 points.

MAD/WS