Alcatel shares up on Thales stake sale report

PARIS (Reuters) - Shares in French telecoms equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent gained 17 percent in early Monday trade after a media report it was close to selling its 20.8 percent stake in Thales to Dassault Aviation . "The deal is imminent ... It may even be announced at the start of the week," French daily La Tribune said, without citing a specific source. Alcatel-Lucent and Dassault Aviation declined to comment. By 3:10 a.m. EDT,... [read full story]