1.   Bid speculation lifted media companies.

2.   Bid speculation also lifted bank shares.

3.   Bid speculation also lifted bank shares, traders said.

4.   Bid speculation among publicly traded insurers has driven shares to record highs and Prudential would still have to pay a premium on top of this for the stock.

5.   Electricity shares advanced, tracking Norweb as the company reignited bid speculation after it said North West Water Plc and others may seek to buy the company.

6.   KKR spokeswoman Dawn Dover said in New York the company had no comment on the bid speculation and does not plan to make a statement.

7.   The company is also the object of bid speculation with its planned spin-off of its music unit expected to draw bidders.

8.   Thorn EMI Plc and Zeneca Group Plc also enjoyed gains through the week as persistent bid speculation kept the stocks in the limelight.

9.   Zeneca Group Plc rebounded from an early slump on renewed bid speculation for the drugmaker.

10.   Share prices rose on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with bid speculation going strong.