Ticker Talk

Reuters Group, the world’s biggest financial information provider, may unveil plans to sell shares in electronic stock-trading network Instinet Corp. when the company reports earnings today. “I wouldn’t be surprised by Reuters’ plans to spin off Instinet,” said Bear Stearns & Co. analyst Amy Butte. Butte said her information came from research on electronic communications networks, which included conversations with the company. Reuters and Instinet spokesmen declined to comment.