Aviva agrees £3.6bn deal to buy Direct Line; new bid to buy Thames Water – business live
Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as FTSE 100 insurer agrees takeover of smaller rivalThe FTSE 100 in London has edged down in the opening trades by five points – less than 0.1% – to 8,344.Direct Line Group has jumped by 7.6% to £2.53 – although it remains well off the £2.75 offer price, suggesting investors may have questions over whether the deal will be completed.EUROPE’S STOXX 600 FLATFRANCE’S CAC 40 UP 0.1%; SPAIN’S IBEX DOWN 0.2%EURO STOXX INDEX DOWN FLAT; EURO ZONE BLUE CHIPS DOWN 0.1%GERMANY’S DAX UP 0.1%There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning.Trains across the network are having to start their journeys later because of this fault and some may also be subject to cancellations or alterations. Please check before you travel, allow extra time for your journey and monitor live departure boards. Continue reading...
Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as FTSE 100 insurer agrees takeover of smaller rival
The FTSE 100 in London has edged down in the opening trades by five points – less than 0.1% – to 8,344.
Direct Line Group has jumped by 7.6% to £2.53 – although it remains well off the £2.75 offer price, suggesting investors may have questions over whether the deal will be completed.
EUROPE’S STOXX 600 FLAT
FRANCE’S CAC 40 UP 0.1%; SPAIN’S IBEX DOWN 0.2%
EURO STOXX INDEX DOWN FLAT; EURO ZONE BLUE CHIPS DOWN 0.1%
GERMANY’S DAX UP 0.1%
There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning.
Trains across the network are having to start their journeys later because of this fault and some may also be subject to cancellations or alterations. Please check before you travel, allow extra time for your journey and monitor live departure boards. Continue reading...
