Bookies see DAX and CAC to open down 0.6-1.1 pct
LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Shares in Germany's DAX .GDAXI and France's CAC-40 .FCHI are set to open lower on Thursday, financial bookmakers said, tracking weakness in the U.S. and Asian markets as the rescue of insurer AIG (AIG.N) failed to calm nerves.
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE, however, was expected to open slightly lower, according to bookmakers, supported by Lloyds TSB's (LLOY.L) move to takeover HBOS HBOS.L.
"The fact that one bank in the UK that was at risk of having serious problem was HBOS. Now that the fact Lloyds is taking them over obviously calm the nerve," said Matthew Buckland, a dealer at CMC Markets.
A person familiar with the matter said Lloyds has agreed to buy HBOS to create a 28 billion pound ($50 billion) mortgage company, making it the latest trouble bank to be forced into the arms of a better-funded rival. [ID:nLH437309]
Financial bookmakers expected the DAX to open down 49 to 65 points, or as much as 1.1 percent, and the CAC-40 to open 22 to 25 points lower, or as much as 0.6 percent.
The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European companies tumbled for a third straight day on Wednesday, falling 2 percent to 1,070.10. (Reporting by Dominic Lau)
