Autonomy jumps on Microsoft interest talk -traders

LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Shares in search software firm Autonomy Corp (AUTN.L) rose as much as 5.6 percent on Thursday, with traders citing renewed market talk of a Microsoft (MSFT.O) interest in the UK company.

Traders said there was talk that Microsoft may bid for Autonomy at around 2,800 pence per share, which was up 3.2 percent at 1,613 pence at 1058 GMT.

Both Microsoft and Autonomy were not immediately available for comment.

More than 1.5 million Autonomy shares changed hands, compared with a daily average of 1.06 million shares in the past 30 days, according to Thomson Reuters data.

(Reporting by Dominic Lau, Atul Prakash, Georgina Prodhan and Blaise Robinson)

((dominic.lau@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 5440; Reuters Messaging: dominic.lau.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: AUTONOMY SHARES/

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