European Stocks Are Little Changed, Post Weekly Decline
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European stocks were little changed, halting five days of losses, amid increased takeover activity and as investors bet the financial troubles of Banco Espirito Santo SA won’t spiral into an euro-area banking crisis.
Imperial Tobacco Group Plc rose to the highest price since at least 1996 after confirming talks with Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc. to buy some assets and brands. Symrise AG climbed as a report said Japan’s Ajinomoto Co. may be interested in buying the German maker of flavors and fragrances. Indesit Co. added 2.9 percent after Whirlpool Corp. agreed to pay $1 billion for a controlling stake in the Italian appliance maker.