Jan 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in

the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and

does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

- Natixis and Generali poised to announce asset management

tie-up

- Bureau Veritas ditched talks with Britain's Intertek ( IKTSF ) to

seek 31 bln pounds Swiss deal

- BP axes 4,700 jobs in cost-cutting drive

- Britain watchdog scrutinises investment trusts' battle

with US hedge fund

Overview

- The owner of France's Natixis Investment Managers and

Italian insurer Generali are close to announcing an

agreement to create an asset management joint venture that would

bring together two of the biggest European names in the sector.

- France's Bureau Veritas broke off merger

discussions with FTSE 100 group Intertek ( IKTSF ) in favour of

pursuing a 31 billion pounds ($37.91 billion) combination with

Swiss rival SGS, underscoring the appetite to

consolidate in the certification sector.

- BP is cutting 4,700 jobs, or just over 5% of its

workforce, as chief executive Murray Auchincloss tries to save

costs and revive a share price that has lagged behind rivals

over the past year.

- Britain's Financial Conduct Authority has been drawn into

an increasingly fractious activist campaign by U.S. activist

hedge fund Saba Capital targeting seven investment trusts as

concerns mount over retail investors' interests.

($1 = 0.8177 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)