MARKET TALK: Barclays Shares Rise, Predator Now Prey?

0953 GMT [Dow Jones] Barclays (BCS) shares gain 1.2% to 687p as investors lookat the bank as a takeover target if its approach for ABN Amro (ABN) fails, saysa trader. Notes many had been buying shares of ABN and Barclays under thescenario that the bidding consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.LN)ultimately acquires ABN. "Not many are looking to RBS as a target if its ABN bidfails," says a trader. However, " Barclays has assets big banks would want." Addsthe vote by Fortis (FORSY) shareholders to endorse a bid by the consortiumremoves a major uncertainty about the outcome of the bidding for ABN. (YLO)

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires 08-06-07 0553ET Copyright (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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