* 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 vaccine
update, looking set to give investors more reasons to cheer.
Credit Agricole launched a cash offer to buy small
Italian bank Credito Valtellinese, offering a premium
of about 20% to Friday's closing price.
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.
Meantime, private equity firm Elliott has made a non-binding
proposal to acquire Aryzta but the Swiss frozen baked
goods maker said it was looking at other options.
Still in M&A, UK roadside recovery group AA has
received a proposal regarding a 35 pence a share cash offer
, while reports said Private equity firm CVC has
joined the race for Bilfinger, sending its shares up
5.6%.
Hellofresh 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.
In COVID-19 treatment news, AstraZeneca said its
vaccine for the novel coronavirus, developed along with the
University of Oxford, could be around 90% effective under one
dosing regimen.
Elsewhere, French food group Danone 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.
Prosus 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.
(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 and FTSE 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 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.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
Astrazeneca (AZN)
