EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Barclays, Ibstock, London Stock Exchange Aug 8 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies, including Barclays, Ibstock and London Stock Exchange, on Thursday. HIGHLIGHTS * Barclays BARC.L : HSBC raises target price to 310p from 290p * Ibstock IBST.L : Berenberg raises target price to 200p from 150p * London Stock Exchange LSEG.L : HSBC raises target price to 9,400p from 8,800p * Persimmon PSN.L : JP Morgan raises

UPDATE 3-Finnish insurer Sampo tops Q2 profit forecasts driven by main P&C unit Updates share move, adds comment on claims in paragraph 2, analyst comments in paragraphs 6-7 Aug 7 (Reuters) - Finnish insurer Sampo SAMPO.HE posted a surprise 22% jump in its second quarter pre-tax profit on Wednesday, boosted by strong premium growth at its main property and casualty (P&C) business If, and despite a higher number of large claims.

BRIEF-Sampo Q2 Pretax Profit EUR 444 Million, Beats Expectations Aug 7 (Reuters) - Sampo Oyj SAMPO.HE : Q2 PRETAX PROFIT EUR 444 MILLION VERSUS EUR 358 MILLION SEEN IN VARA CONSENSUS Q2 EPS EUR 0.62 VERSUS EUR 0.60 YEAR AGO Q2 NET PROFIT FOR EQUITY HOLDERS EUR 310 MILLION VERSUS EUR 304 MILLION YEAR AGO MAINTAINED ITS 2024 OUTLOOK FOR A GROUP COMBI

Finnish insurer Sampo tops Q2 earnings forecasts Aug 7 (Reuters) - Finnish insurer Sampo SAMPO.HE reported a surprise jump in its second quarter earnings on Wednesday, citing strong premium growth and positive underlying margin development. Reporting by Marta Frąckowiak in Gdańsk; editing by Milla Nissi

DIARY-Nordic corporate earnings week ahead Aug 2 (Reuters) - Diary of Nordic (OMXS30-SK, OBX-OS, OMXHPI-HE, OMXC20) corporate earnings for the week ahead NORDIC EARNINGS Start Date Start Time (GMT) RIC Company Name Event Name 08-Aug-2024 NTS NOD.OL Nordic Semiconductor ASA Q2 2024 Nordic Semiconductor ASA Earnings Release Start Date Start Time (GMT) RIC Company Name Event Name 06-Aug-2024 NTS REKA.HE Reka Industrial Oyj Q2 2024 Reka Industrial Oyj Earnings Release 06-Aug-2024 05:00 EQV1V.HE eQ O

Netflix co-founder Hastings gives $7 mln to pro-Harris PAC, source says LOS ANGELES, July 23 (Reuters) - Netflix NFLX.O co-founder Reed Hastings has donated $7 million to a super PAC that supports Vice President Kamala Harris' run for U.S. president, a source close to Hastings said on Tuesday. The source was confirming a report published by The Information earlier in the day.

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Anglo American Plc, Capricorn Energy, Ericsson July 15 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies, including Anglo American Plc, Capricorn Energy and Ericsson, on Monday. HIGHLIGHTS * Anglo American Plc AAL.L : Barclays raises target price to 2740p from 2600p * Capricorn Energy CNE.L : Peel Hunt raises to add from hold * Ericsson ERICb.ST : Jefferies raises target price to SEK 82 from SEK 70 * Glencore GLEN.L : Ba

BRIEF-Topdanmark Shareholder 1832 Asset Management To Accept Sampo's Offer June 20 (Reuters) - Sampo Oyj SAMPO.HE : REG-TOPDANMARK SHAREHOLDER 1832 ASSET MANAGEMENT INTENDS TO ACCEPT SAMPO’S PUBLIC EXCHANGE OFFER SAMPO OYJ - IRREVOCABLE COMMITMENTS, SUPPORT STATEMENTS TOGETHER W SAMPO'S OWNERSHIP IN TOPDANMARK NOW REPRESENT 57.2% OF OUTSTANDING S

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-Givaudan, National Grid, Schneider Electric June 18 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies, including Givaudan, National Grid and Schneider Electric, on Tuesday. HIGHLIGHTS * Crest Nicholson Holdings Plc CRST.L : RBC raises target price to 250p from 175p * Givaudan SA GIVN.S : JP Morgan raises target price to CHF 4,200 from CHF 3,800 * National Grid NG.L : Barclays cuts target price to 1120p from 1365p * Schne

BREAKINGVIEWS-Nordic $5 bln insurer M&A limits cross-border risk The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own. By Aimee Donnellan LONDON, June 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cross-border M&A often proves a dicey business. Venturing into unfamiliar markets with different regulatory frameworks can go awry: Prudential’s AIA tilt in 2010 didn’t even make it to the altar.

BUZZ-Topdanmark sees best day ever after Sampo bid ** Shares in Danish insurer Topdanmark TOP.CO rise 21% after a takeover offer made by its Finnish rival Sampo SAMPO.HE ** The all-share deal values Topdanmark at 33 billion Danish crowns ($4.73 billion), the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday ** Based on Friday's closing share prices

LIVE MARKETS-Europe's futures inch up after French battering 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 EUROPE'S FUTURES INCH UP AFTER FRENCH BATTERING European shares were set for a slightly positive start on Monday, attemping to steady following last week's French political tremors that reverberated across bonds, currencies and equity markets globally.

UPDATE 2-Finland's Sampo makes $4.7 bln bid for Topdanmark Adds quote, detail of bid, ownership in paragraphs 4-8 OSLO, June 17 (Reuters) - Finnish insurer Sampo SAMPO.HE has agreed to buy Topdanmark TOP.CO in an all-share deal that values the Danish rival at 33 billion crowns ($4.73 billion), the two companies said on Monday. Sampo already owns 48.5% of the Danish property and casualty (P&C) insurer, according to LSEG data.

Finland's Sampo offers to buy Topdanmark for $4.7 bln OSLO, June 17 (Reuters) - Finnish insurer Sampo SAMPO.HE has agreed to buy Danish rival Topdanmark TOP.CO for 33 billion Danish crowns ($4.73 billion) in an all-share deal, the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday. ($1 = 6.9694 Danish crowns) Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by A

BRIEF-Sampo Announces Exchange Offer To Shareholders Of Topdanmark June 17 (Reuters) - Sampo Oyj SAMPO.HE : REG-INSIDE INFORMATION: SAMPO ANNOUNCES A RECOMMENDED BEST AND FINAL PUBLIC EXCHANGE OFFER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TOPDANMARK BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TOPDANMARK WILL UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND TOPDANMARK SHAREHOLDERS TO ACCEPT OFFER WHEN MADE TOPDANM