European Stocks Likely to Gain, Led by Phones on Optimism for More Mergers.

European stocks are likely to gain in coming days, led by phone, media and computer-related companies on expectations Europe_s fastest growing industries will be rife with takeovers after Vodafone AirTouch Plc agreed a $203.8 billion takeover of Mannesmann AG. The Dow Jones Stoxx 50 index rose for a fourth day Friday, taking its gain for the week to 3.4 percent. The week_s advance was led by a 30 percent surge in Royal KPN NV, which is considered a favorite to buy Orange Plc, the U.K._s third biggest mobile phone company that Mannesmann is expected to sell. Investors expect Royal Dutch/Shell Group to report a jump in fourth-quarter profit Thursday, while British Airways Plc is forecast to post a loss. Other companies reporting earnings over the week include Lloyds TSB Group Plc and Commerzbank AG. The DJ Stoxx 50 index has risen 1 percent this year, even though 34 of its members have fallen. Of the gainers, 80 percent are phone or computer-related companies. Banks and insurers may extend U.K. declines in coming days on concern the Bank of England will raise interest rates next week for a second time this year. All but two of the 22 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News expect the bank to raise its securities repurchase rate a quarter percentage point to 6 percent after the two-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee concludes on Feb. 10.