
Majority government could allow bank mergers: analyst CBC \|\| January 13, 2006 [KDR: There is no difference if there is a majority or minority government these banks will merge because no one is resisting it.] Shares in the Bank of Montreal soared to a 52-week high on Wednesday, with some market watchers attributing the jump to the possibility that bank mergers will be back on the agenda after the Jan. 23 election. BMO has long been seen as a likely takeover candidate if mergers were permitted. BMO shares jumped $1.63 or nearly 2.5 per cent to $67.83 in TSX trading. The bank's rise stood out in the financial services index, which gained just 0.4 per cent. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 23.42 points to 11,621. The BMO action followed a report by National Bank analyst Robert Wessel, who said mergers could be back on Ottawa's agenda if one of the parties wins a majority. Recent polls have suggested the Conservatives may garner enough support to do that. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com Marilyn Trentos, investment adviser at RBC Dominion Securities, told CBC News Business that investors are "starting to anticipate a majority government in Ottawa." BMO proposed a merger with the Royal Bank in 1998, but then-finance minister Paul Martin rejected the idea. Ottawa has not reconsidered that ban, despite lobbying by the banks and cautious backing in a Senate report. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Majority government could allow bank mergers: analyst

CBC || January 13, 2006

[KDR: There is no difference if there is a majority or minority government these banks will merge because no one is resisting it.]

Shares in the Bank of Montreal soared to a 52-week high on Wednesday, with some market watchers attributing the jump to the possibility that bank mergers will be back on the agenda after the Jan. 23 election.

BMO has long been seen as a likely takeover candidate if mergers were permitted.

BMO shares jumped $1.63 or nearly 2.5 per cent to $67.83 in TSX trading. The bank's rise stood out in the financial services index, which gained just 0.4 per cent. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 23.42 points to 11,621.

The BMO action followed a report by National Bank analyst Robert Wessel, who said mergers could be back on Ottawa's agenda if one of the parties wins a majority. Recent polls have suggested the Conservatives may garner enough support to do that.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Marilyn Trentos, investment adviser at RBC Dominion Securities, told CBC News Business that investors are "starting to anticipate a majority government in Ottawa."

BMO proposed a merger with the Royal Bank in 1998, but then-finance minister Paul Martin rejected the idea. Ottawa has not reconsidered that ban, despite lobbying by the banks and cautious backing in a Senate report.

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