BUZZ-Croda: Top midcap gainer after first-quarter sales jump
** Croda International Plc (Other OTC: COIHF - news) 's shares rise as much as 4 pct, after the specialty chemicals maker's first-quarter sales rise 4 pct on a constant currency basis boosted by growth across all its units
** Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in the company, which counts L'Oreal SA and Unilever Plc (NYSE: UL - news) among its customers, are the top pct gainers on London's FTSE-250 Midcap Index
** "Croda's profitable organic growth resurgence continues, and cash return remains something investors can look forward to. It's valuation discount to consumer peers remains significant, and we stay overweight," Morgan Stanley (Xetra: 885836 - news) analysts write
** Stock also top gainer on the FTSE-350 Chemicals index , which is up 0.96 pct
** Croda says 2015 has started in line with its expectations (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : esha.vaish.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)