FTSE edges higher as bids for Spire, Vectura lift healthcare sector | 26 May 2021
26 May 2021 | 08:34am StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks edged higher in early trade on Wednesday, buoyed by two takeover deals in the local healthcare sector worth around £1 billion each. At 0822, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 5.76 points, or less than 0.1%, at 7,035.55. Private hospital group Spire Healthcare surged 26% to 243.5p on announcing that it had agreed to be acquired by Australia's Ramsay Health Care for £999.6 million. Spire shareholders would receive 240p per share, a 24% premium to the company's latest closing price before the deal was announced. Inhaled-treatment focused ...