Lafarge falls 2.7 per cent on market talk that the company may revise its sales forecast lower, traders say.

"(There is a) rumour doing the rounds (on) Lafarge that they will guide lower" says one London-based trader.

A spokewoman for Lafarge declines to comment on the rumour.

"Lafarge rumour warning, that’s what’s dragging the stock," says a Paris-based trader.

Earlier this month, Lafarge said it may revise its forecast for global cement sales in 2009 when it publishes interim results later this month.