Live Markets: Bank M&A, dealmaking, AstraZeneca on our radar

Aryzta AG

23/11/2020 07:53

* European shares seen opening higher
    * AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can be 90% effective
    * Vaccine shots could reach Americans by mid-December
    * EuroSTOXX50 futures up 0.4%, FTSE futures up 0.3%
    * Eyes on flash PMIs 

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    BANK M&A, DEALMAKING, ASTRAZENECA ON OUR RADAR (0745 GMT)
    The positive mood seen is Asia is set to spill over to
Europe at the open today with fresh dealmaking activity in banks
and other sectors, along with AstraZeneca's  AZN.L  vaccine
update, looking set to give investors more reasons to cheer. 
    Credit Agricole  CAGR.PA  launched a cash offer to buy small
Italian bank Credito Valtellinese  PCVI.MI , offering a premium
of about 20% to Friday's closing price.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2I909Y
    In the same sector, Reuters reported that Italy's Treasury
picked advisers to secure a merger deal for bailed-out bank
Monte dei Paschi, while Bloomberg said talks with UniCredit on
MPS's takeover have intensified.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2I7098
    Meantime, private equity firm Elliott has made a non-binding
proposal to acquire Aryzta  ARYN.S  but the Swiss frozen baked
goods maker said it was looking at other options. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2I90HK
    Still in M&A, UK roadside recovery group AA  AAAA.L  has
received a proposal regarding a 35 pence a share cash offer
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASN000K0Z, while reports said Private equity firm CVC has
joined the race for Bilfinger  GBFG.DE , sending its shares up
5.6%.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2I63NA
    Hellofresh  HFGG.DE  shares are down 5.3% after the company
said it bought Factor75, a U.S. provider of fully-prepared
meals, for up to $277 million in cash.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2I63NA     
    In COVID-19 treatment news, AstraZeneca  AZN.L  said its
vaccine for the novel coronavirus, developed along with the
University of Oxford, could be around 90% effective under one
dosing regimen.   urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2I91B5
    Elsewhere, French food group Danone  DANO.PA  has announced
new cost-savings targets and said it planned to become a more
"local-first" organization worldwide, as part of efforts to
adapt to a post COVID-19 market.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS8N2ET01G
    Prosus  PRX.AS  has reported core earnings for the six
months ended Sept. 30. grew by 29% to $2.2 billion, as proceeds
from its lucrative stake in Tencent offset losses at its other
online businesses.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2I909D 
    (Danilo Masoni)
    *****
    
     
    
    VACCINE OPTIMISM SET TO LIFT EUROPEAN SHARES (0641 GMT)
    European shares are set to rise at the open today after the
weekend brought fresh optimism over a rapid vaccine deployment
in the U.S., while flash PMIs for November this morning will be
eyed for a glimpse over the health of region's economy.
    EuroSTOXX50  STXEc1  and FTSE  FFIc1  futures are up 0.4%
and 0.3% respectively following gains overnight in Asia that
lifted MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside
Japan  .MIAPJ0000PUS  to a new record high.
    A top U.S. official said on Sunday that the first vaccines
could be given to U.S. healthcare workers and others recommended
by mid-December.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2I80DC             
    (Danilo Masoni) 
    *****