The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) has started the week off on the back foot, falling 0.95%, after Italian voters decided not to support constitutional reforms.
Not only will the result put the fragile Italian banking system back under the spotlight, but it also brings the stability of the European Union back into question.
On a more positive note, these four shares have managed to make their shareholders a little happier today with solid share price gains:
DUET Group (ASX: DUE)
Shares of DUET Group have surged as much as 20% today after the utility company confirmed that is has received an unsolicited, $3.00 per share, non-binding takeover offer from Cheung Kong Infrastructure. The offer values the company at $7.5 billion and is a 27% premium to the company's closing price on Friday of $2.35. The board of DUET is now considering the proposal and has advised shareholders to take no action until further information is made available.
BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX)
BWX shares have rebounded more than 4.1% today, despite the absence of any news from the natural beauty products company. It comes after the shares were sold off quite heavily on Friday most likely in response to the disappointing trading update provided by Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL). Nonetheless, BWX re-affirmed its FY17 earnings guidance at its AGM six weeks ago and expects to deliver 30% EBITDA growth over the course of the financial year.
Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)
Bapcor shares have gained around 2% today after the automotive parts distributor announced that it was increasing its takeover offer for New Zealand-based company, Hellaby Holdings Ltd. Bapcor will now offer NZ$3.60 per share, a 9.1% increase from its previous offer of NZ$3.30 per share. The deal now looks far more likely to succeed with Bapcor claiming major shareholders (representing around 40% of the shares on issue) are willing to accept the revised offer.
G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM)
Shares of G8 Education have climbed around 3.5% today after the childcare company provided a better-than-expected trading update. Based on the first 10 months of trading, the company anticipates full-year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to fall within $158 million to $162 million, compared to $145.4 million (underlying) in the previous corresponding period. G8 Education also confirmed it will pay another 6 cent per share dividend for the latest quarter.
