Nov 29 (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

- St James's Place closes £1.8bn property funds and exits

market

- Telegraph newspaper deal extended until end of year

- Aviva goes direct to Direct Line shareholders

- Net migration to the UK hit record 900,000 in 2023

Overview

- UK wealth manager St James's Place is closing its

1.8 billion pound ($2.29 billion) property funds and exiting the

sector after two decades due to "a challenging period", as some

investment experts believe the market for open-ended property

funds is "over."

- The sale of the Telegraph faces further delays after

RedBird IMI gave Dovid Efune, the preferred bidder, until at

least Christmas to raise the money to acquire a national

newspaper that has been without a permanent owner for about 18

months.

- Aviva has contacted shareholders in Direct Line

in a move that could pave the way for a hostile

takeover bid for its smaller rival.

- Net migration to the UK exceeded 900,000 for the year to

June 2023, the highest annual total on record, in what British

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a "complete loss of control"

by the previous Conservative government.

($1 = 0.7873 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)