Hays plc

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Friday, lifted by a 13% surge in Vodafone shares after investment vehicle Vega agreed to acquire Emirates Telecommunications' 16.2% stake for £4.4 billion, making it the telecom firm's largest shareholder. The blue-chip index rose 24.84 points, or 0.2%, to 10,497.29, while the FTSE 250 added 0.6% and the AIM All-Share edged up 0.2%. Vega, owned by the Xavier Niel family, said it has no intention of making a takeover offer but JPMorgan analysts noted Niel is not known as a passive investor. St James's Place slumped 8.6% after a report that a large partner firm plans to exit, while Hays jumped 20% on an upbeat profit forecast and easyJet soared 14% after agreeing to a £5.7 billion takeover proposal from Apollo Management that tops a rival bid.

European stocks were subdued on Friday amid AI valuation concerns and tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the U.S. The pan-European STOXX 600 was marginally lower at 640.66 after rising 0.8 percent on Thursday. The German DAX, France's CAC 40 and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 all traded marginally lower. Careium AB shares soared 11 percent after the Swedish care technology company reported a 24 percent rise in second-quarter net sales. Vodafone jumped 11 percent after UAE telecoms operator E& announced it would sell its entire stake in the British carrier to Vega. No-frills airline EasyJet skyrocketed 14 percent after agreeing in principle to a £5.7 billion takeover proposal from U.S. private equity giant Apolo Global Management. Recruitment specialist Hays surged 12 percent after saying its annual operating profit would land at the top of analyst forecasts.