** Bid speculation propels Sky to levels last seenearly 2001 in robust volume as M&A gathers pace across Europe
** French media conglomerate Vivendi looking atpossible acquisition of Sky to build pan-European pay-TV giant,sources familiar with the matter say
** Spokesmen for Vivendi, Sky & Vincent Bollore (Vivendi'schairman & biggest shareholder) decline to comment
** Sky, up 3.6 pct, 3rd-top FTSE 100 riser, behindoil stocks lifted by Shell's $70 bln deal to buy BGGroup
** Sky already traded a third of its 90-day daily avg volume (RM: tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)