Ticker Talk

Maytag Corp. (MYG) shares jumped 11% on Thursday, rising $4.19 to close at $41.50 on the NYSE, as takeover speculation intensified. The New York Times reported that the No. 3 U.S. maker of household appliances was in talks to be acquired for about $4 billion by Sweden’s Electrolux, the largest maker of refrigerators and vacuum cleaners. Maytag also has been approached informally by other companies, the newspaper said. Electrolux’s U.S.-traded shares, down 45% this year, closed unchanged at $27.50 on the NYSE.