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* FTSE 100 down 0.1 pct
* IWG jumps on potential bidding war
* BP, Royal Dutch shell edge down
By Julien Ponthus
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - UK shares traded slightly loweron Monday as oil prices falling from multi-year highs weighedand a potential bidding war for IWG triggered a surge inthe serviced office provider's stock, the latest deal in aflurry of mergers and acquisitions.
The index of leading UK stocks was down about 0.1percent by 0813 GMT, while the broader FTSE 250 thatincludes IWG, gained 0.1 percent.
Oil stocks were the worst-performing across Europe as crudeprices fell due to a surge in U.S. drilling activity andresistance in Europe and Asia to U.S. sanctions against Iran.
FTSE heavyweights Royal Dutch Shell and BPlost about 0.6 percent and 0.1 percent respectively while arising pound, which typically bites in the revenues ofdollar-earning companies, also dragged the index down.
"This, alongside a half a percent dip from Brent Crude, islikely preventing the FTSE from gathering any steam", saidConnor Campbell, a financial analyst at Spreadex, noting howeverthat the British blue-chip benchmark was holding its ground atlevels not seen since January.
The FTSE 100 recorded a seventh straight week of gains onFriday, its longest winning streak since June 2015, as investorsbegan to warm to UK equities amid a wave of deals and takeovers.
Shares in IWG were up over 20 percent in early trading afterit the workplace provider attracted takeover approaches fromthree rival suitors, potentially plunging the $3.1 billioncompany into a bidding war.
On Friday, ZPG, the owner of property websitesZoopla and PrimeLocation, surged 30.2 percent to a record highafter U.S. private equity firm Silver Lake Management offered490 pence per share for the company, valuing it at 2.2 billionpounds.
British Gas owner Centrica which reaffirmed its 2018targets, citing higher energy demand from colder-than-usualweather, was up 0.8 percent.
TalkTalk Telecom Group was up 2.1 percent after areport saying it was working with Virgin Media on a deal toshare the cost of new ultrafast broadband networks and dial upthe pressure on BT Group. The latter was down 1.2percent.(Julien Ponthus; Editing by Jon Boyle)
BP (BP.)
