Home Retail shares jump on report of private-equity takeover interest

Shares in the owner of Argos and Homebase rose by more than 7%

Argos has experienced problems with the Black Friday shopping event

Shares in Home Retail Group rose the most in more than two years after a report that private-equity companies are considering a bid for the UK retailer.

The stock jumped as much as 7.4 per cent to 111 pence, the steepest gain since September 2013. Prior to today’s jump, the shares had halved this year, valuing the owner of Argos stores and the Homebase home-improvement chain at £841 million (€1.2 billion).

The Sunday ...