RPT-BREAKINGVIEWS-Drahi-for-Bharti swap gives BT partial relief The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own. By Pierre Briancon LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - BT BT.L Chief Executive Allison Kirkby can breathe a sigh of relief. India’s Bharti on Monday announced it was buying French telco mogul Patrick Drahi’s near-25% stake in the $18 billion British telecom operator.

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on August 13 Aug 13 - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is expected to open higher on Tuesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.25%. * OIL: Oil prices edged lower breaking a five-day streak of gains after OPEC on Monday cut its 2024 demand growth forcast over softer expectations in China. * GOLD: Gold prices eased as profit-taking kicked in after bullion hit an over one-week high, while market players awaited U.S.

PRESS DIGEST-British Business - Aug 13 Aug 13 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer has "warned" the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian not to attack Israel in his first call with the Islamic Republic's new leader.

PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - August 13 Aug 13 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines - Indian billionaire to buy 24.5% BT stake from Altice - UK Treasury questions timetable on contentious fraud compensation plan - Rachel Reeves weighs PFI-style deal for 9 billion STG new Thames crossing - Carlyle explores 3 billion euro sale of Dutch salt and chemicals producer Nobian Overvi

UPDATE 1-UK's FTSE 100 ends higher supported by commodity-linked stocks For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3% BT Group jumps after India's Bharti to buyout top shareholder UK July CPI due Wednesday, June wages data due Tuesday Updated at 1603 GMT By Purvi Agarwal and Roshan Abraham Aug 12 (Reuters) - London stocks kicked off the week on a positive note on Monday, supported by resources-linke

FACTBOX-Indian ownership of British companies Aug 12 (Reuters) - India's Bharti Enterprises said on Monday it would acquire a 24.5% stake in BT BT.L , worth 3.2 billion pounds ($4 billion), to buy out the British company's top investor Patrick Drahi. Here is a look at some other Indian companies that own British firms. * TATA GROUP The Indian business behemoth owns the UK-based luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, while Tata Steel TISC.NS has plants in Britain, including the Port Talbot facility.

LIVE MARKETS-Lack of direction to keep S&P 500 range-bound - MS STOXX 600 up 0.1% BT shares up on Drahi stake sale Volatility ebbs Wall St futures edge up Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com LACK OF DIRECTION TO KEEP S&P 500 RANGE-BOUND - MS The S&P 500 will trade range-bound as markets look for direction and evidence of better economic growth and earnings, says Morga

LIVE MARKETS-Fade the rebound in stocks and bonds - BCA Research STOXX 600 up 0.1% BT shares up on Drahi stake sale Volatility ebbs Wall St futures edge up Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com FADE THE REBOUND IN STOCKS AND BONDS - BCA RESEARCH The rebound in European stocks and bonds is only temporary, according to BCA Research, which expects the carry-trade "blowup"

LIVE MARKETS-Markets serene but sensitive ahead of key US data STOXX 600 little changed BT shares up on Drahi stake sale Volatility ebbs Wall St futures edge up Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com MARKETS SERENE BUT SENSITIVE AHEAD OF KEY US DATA A calm feeling has descended upon markets, in stark contrast to one week ago, when the yen carry trade unwinding and U.S.

MORNING BID AMERICAS-Markets pray inflation stays well behaved A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan Off-radar for much of the past week's market turbulence, U.S. inflation updates this week will reveal just how much latitude the Federal Reserve has to meet pumped-up expectations around its first interest rate cut next month.

BREAKINGVIEWS-Drahi-for-Bharti swap gives BT partial relief The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own. Updates to add graphic, adds in-text hyperlink in second paragraph. By Pierre Briancon LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - BT BT.L Chief Executive Allison Kirkby can breathe a sigh of relief. India’s Bharti on Monday announced it was buying French telco mogul Patrick Drahi’s near-25% stake in the $18 billion British telecom operator.

LIVE MARKETS-Summertime sadness STOXX 600 flat BT shares up on Drahi stake sale Volatility ebbs Wall St futures edge up Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com SUMMERTIME SADNESS Europe's STOXX 600 .STOXX could be set to rise for a fifth straight day on Monday if early gains hold, but the index still trades about 5% below its peak from June, and analysts remain cautious t

UPDATE 2-European shares muted as investors brace for data-packed week For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window Hannover Re up after H1 results BT jumps as India's Bharti to buy 24.5% stake from Altice Vestas drops after trimming FY profit margin outlook STOXX 600 flat Updated at 1600 GMT By Pranav Kashyap and Ankika Biswas Aug 12 (Reuters) - gtgEurope's benchmark stock index was subdued on Monday , erasing early gains, w ith inve

LIVE MARKETS-Smooth sailing STOXX 600 up 0.2% BT shares up on Drahi stake sale Volatility ebbs Wall St futures edge up Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com SMOOTH SAILING European equity markets are a beacon of calm on Monday after the bouts of volatility seen during the previous few weeks.

BUZZ-UK's BT Group tops FTSE 100; India's Bharti Enterprises to buy stake ** Shares of British telecom giant BT Group BT.L up 7.3% at 140p, top gainer on FTSE 100 .FTSE which is up 0.06% ** India's Bharti Enterprises to buy about 24.5% stake in BT from Altice UK for about about 3.2 bln pounds ($4.09 bln) ** Bharti to acquire initial 9.99% stake bef

India's Bharti has not asked for BT board seat, chair says LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Bharti Enterprises has not asked for a seat on the board of BT BT.L , its chair said, after the Indian company said it would buy a 24.5% stake in BT from telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi's Altice group. "We have not asked for any board seat," Bharti Enterprises Chair Sunil Bharti Mittal told reporters on a call on Monday.

UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Aug. 12 Adds new items, update futures Aug 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Monday, with futures FFIc1 up 0 .3%. * BT: India's Bharti Enterprises said it would acquire a 24.5% stake in BT Group BT.L , buying out the British company's top shareholder, Altice UK, the vehicle of Telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi.

LIVE MARKETS-Futures in the green Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com FUTURES IN THE GREEN Major European equity markets look set to open in the green on Monday as markets settle down following recent bouts of volatility, with eyes already turning to Wednesday's U.S.

UPDATE 5-India's Bharti to buy 24.5% stake in BT from Altice Bharti to buy initial 9.99% stake Group says it does not want to acquire whole of BT Drahi's Altice group under pressure over debt Shares up 6% Drahi had spent about 4.2 bln pounds for stake Updates with price paid by Drahi for stake in paragraph 5 By Sarah Young, Yadarisa Shabong and Mathieu Rosemain LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - India's Bharti Enterprises said it would acquire a 24.5% stake in BT BT.L , worth 3.2 billion pounds ($4 bill

BRIEF-Bharti Global To Acquire 24.5% Stake In BT From Altice UK Aug 12 (Reuters) - Bharti Global Ltd: BHARTI GLOBAL LTD BT GROUP PLC - STATEMENT RE BT GROUP PLC ("BT" OR “THE COMPANY”) BHARTI GLOBAL TO ACQUIRE 24.5% STAKE IN BT GROUP BHARTI GLOBAL: HAS NO INTENTION OF MAKING AN OFFER TO ACQUIRE BT BHARTI GLOBAL: APPLYING VOLUNTARILY FOR UK NATI