(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
* FTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 lower
* NMC Health tops FTSE 100 on M&A news
* Coronavirus concerns persist among traders
Feb 10 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 weakened on Monday
after Britain declared the coronavirus epidemic a serious and
imminent threat to public health, though reports of takeover
bids pushed up shares of troubled healthcare company NMC 18%.
The FTSE 100 index of blue-chip companies .FTSE dipped
0.2% and the midcap index .FTMC was lower by 0804 GMT.
The drop was consistent with Asian markets, where most
indexes were down, after reports the coronavirus had killed more
than 900 people, surpassing the death toll of the 2002-2003 SARS
epidemic.
But NMC Health NMC.L snapped a five-day losing streak,
putting it on course for its best day since December, after it
said it has got highly preliminary approaches from Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts and GK Investment regarding possible offers.