MILAN (Reuters) – Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) delayed a decision on whether to open formal merger talks with Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), buying more time to win over its divided shareholders.

Italy’s largest phone group by market share said last month that Hutchison was interested in becoming its biggest shareholder.

MILAN (Reuters) – Shares in Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) dropped nearly 3 percent after sources said the board will likely put off a decision on whether to start formal merger talks with Hutchison Whampoa (0013.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) at a meeting on Wednesday.

The stock had rallied 25 percent from near record lows since media reports last month of a possible tie-up between Italy’s biggest telecom operator and Hong Kong-based Hutchison.

MILAN (Reuters) – Investors welcomed on Monday the formation of a new government in Italy, piling into the country’s assets and brushing off a warning it might still need international aid to weather a deep economic crisis.

Sovereign borrowing costs fell to their lowest since October 2010 at a sale of 6 billion euros of five-year and 10-year bonds, and blue chip shares rose 1.6 percent – outperforming other European markets.

MILAN, April 29 (Reuters) – Investors welcomed on Monday the
formation of a new government in Italy, piling into the
country’s assets and brushing off a warning it might still need
international aid to weather a deep economic crisis.

Sovereign borrowing costs fell to their lowest since October
2010 at a sale of 6 billion euros of five-year and 10-year
bonds, and blue chip shares rose 1.6 percent -
outperforming other European markets.