FTSE cheers up on fresh bid news
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London equities  moved either side of the flatline in volatile trade on Thursday. A solid start to US trade and fresh bid activity in the brewing sector provided a measure of cheer in the afternoon.
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European stock markets hit fresh  29-month highs on Tuesday, tracking gains in New York and after  HBOS said it will beat forecasts as well as buy back shares.
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The FTSE 100 has climbed as a surge by US shares gives a boost to European markets. Shire Pharmaceuticals SHP.L jumped after winning approval for a key drug and consumer goods giant Unilever ULVR.
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London equities made steady progress on Friday after miners benefited from fresh bid speculation, but further turbulence in the financial sector cast a shadow over sentiment.
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European stock markets rose in early deals, helped by some well-received company news, a late surge on Wall Street and positive broker comment, dealers said.
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European shares traded sideways on  Wednesday but banks were a bright spot as Britain's HBOS  rallied on relief it would not be wading into a bidding war for  domestic peer Abbey.
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London equities made progress in opening trade on Wednesday, helped by strength in financial stocks. Retailers stayed in the limelight with closely watched corporate news from J Sainsbury and DSG International.
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Leading shares finished the session comfortably higher, at their best levels in almost 2-1/2 years, boosted by positive news from BSkyB and a broadly positive morning on Wall Street, dealers said.
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London equities had a wild session on Friday with miners benefiting from fresh bid speculation, but further turbulence in the financial sector cast a shadow over sentiment.
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European stocks hit fresh six-and-a-half-year highs on Friday as takeover speculation offset any caution ahead of non-farm payrolls from the US later in the session.
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London equities opened in positive territory on Friday as miners continued to rally on firmer base metal prices and the FTSE was cheered by a strong session on Wall Street overnight.
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The FTSE on Wednesday held on to its gains from the previous session helped by some strong moves in the life assurance sector.
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UK blue chips closed higher with takeover speculation once again providing the excitement in an otherwise quiet session, while a well-received batch of US economic data eased Wall Street's fears of future interest rate hikes, dealers said.
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London equities stayed in positive territory on Friday with shares in BT Group standing out after bullish comment on the company&#39;s prospects from its chief executive.
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London equities made strong gains on Friday, as fresh bid activity energerised the mining sector.
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European stock markets pushed upwards in early deals as company news provided a fillip in otherwise cautious trading ahead of a US interest rate decision.
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Europe's year-end rally gathered momentum this week with bid speculation in the banking and retail sectors helping equities reach a fresh 5&frac12;-year high on Friday.