Shares in Kingfisher, owner of DIY chain B&Q rose sharply on Tuesday afternoon this week, on the back of rumours of a takeover.
Suggestions that two US DIY chains - Home Depot and Lowes - could both make a move for the B&Q owner meant the group finished 5.2p higher at 236.5p.

As well as the flagship B&Q business, Kingfisher owns Screwfix in the UK and Castorama in France, as well as a significant share in Hornbach in Germany, and it is also a diy market leader in Poland, Turkey and China.

However, it is not the first time the two US companies have been linked to Kingfisher, and it has also been suggested that it could be a target for private equity concerns. Market rumours suggested a bid price as high as £3.50 a share - a significant premium to the current price, and one which would value Kingfisher at more than £8bn.

Home Depot, the world's largest diy retailer, has repeatedly been tipped as possible Kingfisher predator at various times over the past 15 years or so - rumours which have been fuelled by the fact that the B&Q Warehouse format is closely modelled on Home Depot's US stores.