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** EUROPEAN MARKETS **
S&P future -0,02%; Bund future 0,04%; Crude future 64,28; €/$ 1,2045; Gold 560

** HEADLINES **

- Zurich Might Pay More Than $100 Million to Settle U.S. Probes, People Say
- European Stocks Head for Biggest Gain in Nine Quarters Amid Takeover Boom
- Vodafone’s Sarin, Free of Predecessor Gent, Exits Japan; U.S. May Be Next
- French Executives Anticipate Accelerating Growth, Economists Survey Shows
- Alcatel, Lucent Combination Plan May Spark More Phone-Equipment Mergers

** IN PLAY TODAY **

- Arcelor: Mittal is still interested in a friendly takeover of Arcelor and
would prefer it to a hostile bid. Arcelor’s CEO has failed to respond to
Mittal’s offers (Der Spiegel citing an interview with Mittal).

- Alcatel and Lucent Technologies planned merger will spark a review from the US
government and Congress on national security grounds (FT). In other news,
Ericsson may consider a bid for Lucent to thwart the merger (Times). Alcatel’s
target price raised 12% to E14.50 by UBS.

- Total may move for the $3bln joint venture with India’s Hindustan Petroleum
after BP pulled out of the bid (Business).

- Continental is interested in buying parts in Delphi and Dana Corp in bid to
strengthen its position in the US and Asia and has E4bln at its disposal for
acquisitions (Die Welt).

- Infineon Technologies will spin off its DRAM memory chip business on May 1,
earlier than planned (Welt am Sonntag).

- Aviva, which itself withdrew its offer for Prudential is now the takeover
target of Axa and AIG, who may be interested in either of the companies (FT).

- ING Groep may sell off its UK stockbroking unit Williams de Broe and has
received some interest from private equity groups such as Alchemy Partners,
according to a company spokeswoman.

- A spit up of Ahold is only a matter of time according to former board member
(FD).

- Abn Amro denied rumours it will be merging with BBVA.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 27th, 2006 at 7:24 and is filed under Uncategorized.