FTSE 100 steady as Sino-U.S. talks in focus, buyout offer pushes Merlin higher

FTSE 100 steady as Sino-U.S. talks in focus, buyout offer pushes Merlin higher
FILE PHOTO: Traders look at financial information on computer screens on the IG Index trading floor in London, Britain February 6, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson Copyright SIMON DAWSON(Reuters)
Copyright SIMON DAWSON(Reuters)
By Reuters
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(Reuters) - Britain's main index was relatively unchanged on Friday as investors waited for a crucial Sino-U.S. meeting this weekend, while Madame Tussauds owner Merlin surged after a buyout offer.

The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> was roughly flat, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 <.FTMC> added 0.4% by 0710 GMT.

Uncertainty over whether any signs of progress towards a resolution of Washington and Beijing's trade war would emerge kept activity among most major sectors muted in early dealings.

Legoland operator Merlin Entertainments <MERL.L> jumped 14.2% to 451 pence on the mid-cap index after agreeing to be acquired by the investment vehicle of Lego's founding family and Blackstone <BX.N> in a 455 pence a share deal.

(Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)

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