m&a

ON NORTH AMERICA

Martin Currie's latest offerings, the Japan and European Absolute Alpha funds, will launch this month with a long bias to internationally-focused companies

Analysis

ON UK GROWTH

SMALL CAPS

THE LEADER

British Airways has identified about a dozen potential merger targets as the BA and Iberia tie-up aims to consolidate the global aviation industry.

Speculation of M&A in various sectors, as well as rising precious and base metals miners, drove the FTSE upwards by 1.5% to 5,303.72 points by 2.15pm.

Man Group has won overwhelming shareholder support for its $1.6bn (£1bn) bid for GLG Partners, and has made a senior appointment from GLG for the enlarged group.

Pimco's Ketish Pothalingam says increased M&A activity could end this year's sterling bond issuance drought.