Deals of the day- Mergers and acquisitions

March 19 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1000 GMT on Wednesday:

** JPMorgan Chase & Co JPM.N will sell its commodities trading business to Switzerland-based energy-trading company Mercuria Energy Group Ltd, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the situation. News Search ID:nL3N0MG2J6

** Snam SpA SRG.MI , one of Europe's biggest gas transport groups, has agreed to buy a stake in the TAG gas pipeline carrying Russian gas into Italy as part of its drive to integrate Europe's patchwork of gas grids. News Search ID:nL6N0MG18R

** Israel Corporation Ltd ILCO.TA , one of Israel's largest conglomerates, said on Tuesday that it was examining the sale of up to 7 percent of its stake in Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL)

ICL.TA . News Search ID:nL3N0MG1WV

** Russian retailer X5 Retail Group PJPq.L has agreed to sell its stores in Ukraine to local rival Varus for an estimated $5-10 million, Ukrainian newspaper Capital reported.

News Search ID:nL6N0MG0T2

** Philippines conglomerate San Miguel Corp SMC.PS is not selling its controlling stake in liquor-maker Ginebra San Miguel Inc GSMI.PS , the group's president stated, after shares in both firms surged amid market talk about a Ginebra sale.

News Search ID:nL3N0MG0P0

** Australia's Stockland Corporation Ltd SGP.AX said on Wednesday that it bought a 19.9 percent stake in smaller rival Australand Property Group ALZ.AX , laying the foundation for the creation of a possible A$11 billion ($10.05 billion) property giant. News Search ID:nL3N0MF4TF

** Singapore's CapitaLand Ltd CATL.SI said on Wednesday that it had sold its remaining 39.1 percent stake in Australia's Australand Property Group ALZ.AX for around $849 million.

News Search ID:nL3N0MF4OM

** Citadel Capital SAE CCAP.CA is in talks to sell its 66.1 percent ownership in the Sudanese Egyptian Bank as part of a program to shed non-core assets, it said in a statement on Wednesday. News Search ID:nL6N0MG1TS

** Austrian oil and gas group OMV AG OMVV.VI said on Wednesday that it had struck an agreement with U.S. peer Hess Corp HES.N to buy four oil and gas licenses in the West of Shetland offshore area for $50 million. News Search ID:nWEB00KFR

** Blackstone Group LP BX.N is working on a higher takeover bid for industrial conglomerate Gates Global Inc after its previous offer of roughly $5.5 billion was turned down by Gates' owners last week, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. News Search ID:nL2N0MB1I6

** Japan's Fast Retailing Co Ltd 9983.T , parent of apparel chain Uniqlo, is no longer in talks to buy U.S. clothing retailer J.Crew Group Inc from its private equity owners, three people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. News Search ID:nL2N0MF1VT

** French investment group Eurazeo EURA.PA agreed to invest 285 million euros ($396.52 million) in Spanish fashion label Desigual to take a 10 percent stake in the company through a capital increase and help it fund its expansion.

News Search ID:nL6N0MF53X

** China's MMG Ltd 1208.HK confirmed on Wednesday that it was in talks with Glencore Xstrata GLEN.L to buy the Las Bambas copper mine in Peru, an acquisition expected to cost more than $5 billion, but said there was no guarantee a deal would be agreed.

($1 = 1.0950 Australian Dollars)

($1 = 0.7188 Euros)

(Compiled by Avik Das in Bangalore)

((avik.das@thomsonreuters.com)(within U.S. +1 646 223 8780)(outside U.S. +91 80 6749 1130)(Reuters Messaging: avik.das.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: DEALS DAY/