** Rank and 888 end efforts to take overWilliam Hill on Thursday, days after a revised offer wasrejected
** William Hill +3.3%, top FTSE 250 riser in volume;co said after market close Thursday it sees FY operating profitat top end of guidance
** Liberum edges up PT to 323p (v 319p) to reflect guidancehike
** Broker never felt now failed merger bid delivered eithervalue for WMH shareholders or clear commercial logic (thoughsays possibility of major synergy benefits - £100m in the caseof the lapsed deal - cannot be ignored)
** Broker says debate on synergies or indeed strategy atWilliam Hill may not be over
** William Hill shares have dived by a quarter sincestart-March peak; gambling faces higher taxes and tighterregulation, and a series of mergers has intensified competitionas firms market themselves to younger sports fans betting viamobile apps
** Rank shares +2.5%, 888 +3.2% (RM: rahul.b.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)