European Insurance Stocks Gain; Friends Provident, Resolution Surge

(Bloomberg) -- European insurance stocks rose, led
by Friends Provident Plc and Resolution Plc after the U.K.
companies said they are in talks for a merger that would create
the U.K.'s fifth-biggest insurer.

Friends Provident jumped the most in more than two months,
while Resolution surged the most since March. Nestle SA dropped
after the Wall Street Journal reported the foodmaker is slimming
down its U.K. candy product range because nearly 40 percent of
its chocolate products made a loss or barely made a profit.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks May Rise on Mergers; ABN Amro, Friends Provident May Gain

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance after
Barclays Plc raised its offer for ABN Amro Holding NV to 67.5
billion euros ($93.4 billion) and Friends Provident Plc held talks
with Resolution Plc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Siemens AG might be active after Handelsblatt reported the
region's largest engineering company received bids for its VDO unit.
TomTom NV, the world's largest maker of car navigation devices, said
it intends to buy Tele Atlas NV.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Insurance Stocks May Advance; Energy Shares, Shell May Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance after
Barclays Plc raised its offer for the biggest Dutch bank to 67.5
billion euros ($93.4 billion) and Friends Provident Plc held talks
with Resolution Plc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Siemens AG might be active after Handelsblatt reported the
region's largest engineering company received bids for its VDO unit.
TomTom NV, the world's largest maker of car navigation devices, said
it intends to buy Tele Atlas NV.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News