July 6 (Bloomberg) -- German stocks fell, led by Persil detergent maker Henkel KGaA and drugmaker Altana AG.

The benchmark DAX Index declined 17.27, or 0.4 percent, to 3978.46 as of 9:40 a.m. in Frankfurt. The HDAX Index of the country's 110 biggest companies shed 0.4 percent to 2039.96. DAX September futures slid 0.6 percent to 3995.

Henkel fell 2.55 euros, or 4 percent, to 61.08 euros. Altana, Germany's fifth-biggest drugmaker, dropped 87 cents, or 1.8 percent, to 48.38 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sheenagh Archey in Frankfurt at sarchey@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 6, 2004 03:45 EDT