From the rumor mill

Merger and acquisition rumors are rampant these days. John Waples, writing in the financial section of the London Times, predicts that in 2006, Lafarge will acquire Hanson. Of course he also predicts that Carphone Warehouse, the telecoms group, will enter the FTSE 100 and Charles Dunstone, its chief executive, will cement his reputation as one of the outstanding entrepreneurs of his generation. Uh . . . what? Your comment?