BUZZ-Ladbrokes: boosted by Berenberg upgrade
** British bookmaker Ladbrokes (LSE: LAD.L - news) ' shares up 2.2 pct among top gainers on FTSE Mid 250 index after Berenberg raises to "buy" from "hold, hikes PT to 185p from 130p
** Brokerage cites approval of merger with Gala Coral & estimates 2017-18 EPS +15% for cos together
** Coral results (due Aug 31) to help combined entity, with Berenberg expecting Q3 rev +9%, digital business rev +29%
** Nearly a quarter of 30-day avg vol through in first hour of trading
** 9 of 17 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 6 "hold" and 2 "sell" or lower
** Up to Thursday's close, stock had risen c.17 pct since its merger with Coral received approval (Reuters Messaging: pranav.kiran@thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)