The FTSE 100 is up 0.3% to 6,940.38 in early trading on Monday, helping to repair a little of the damage after a testing week for the index.

Corporate news is largely dominated by M&A activity as packaging firm Smurfit Kappa (SKG) rejects a sweetened near €9bn offer from US rival International Paper. Its shares tumble 4.8% to £29.12 in response.

Engineering firm GKN (GKN) is forced to retract statements in the weekend papers suggesting it enjoys the backing of shareholders in its attempt to see off a hostile bid from industrial buyout firm Melrose (MRS). Meanwhile Dana reveals a £100m increase in its offer for the group's driveline business.

Sportswear retailer JD Sports (JD.) buys US trainer franchise The Finish Line for around £400m. The deal should give the company a major presence across the Atlantic, with some 550 stores across the country and its position as the exclusive retailer of athletic shoes for department store Macy’s.

JD executive chairman Peter Cowgill says: ‘Finish Line has many similarities to JD with a strong bricks and mortar offering complemented by an advanced and well-invested digital platform.’

The deal still awaits approval from both sets of shareholders and is not expected to go through until June at the earliest. Shares in JD are up 3.4% to 367.9p.

Car dealer Inchcape (INCH) gains 1.3% to 680p as it announces the $284m acquisition of Central American distributor Grupo Rudelman.

Office services provider Restore (RST:AIM) gains 7.8% to 509p as it announces a £51.5m placing to fund the acquisition of record management business TNT Business Solutions for £88m. The market appears to like the news with the shares trading 8.4% higher at 511.4p.

Tool and equipment hire business Speedy Hire (SDY) gains 5.2% to 50.8p as it reports adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March 2018 will be ahead of expectations.

Small cap stockbroker Shore Capital (SGR:AIM) sees pre-tax profit jump 91.7% to £4.6m year-on-year in 2017 helping its shares advance 6.1% to 260p.

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Issue Date: 26 Mar 2018