Bloomberg’s praise for FT fuels speculation

Mike Bloomberg’s comments at an event honoring The Financial Times‘ 125th birthday has once again fueled speculation that he is interested in purchasing the financial newspaper, reports Amy Chozick of the New York Times.

Chozick writes, “In a speech for the occasion, Mr. Bloomberg said he was there ‘to celebrate my second favorite financial news outlet,’ which he said has ‘always been on the cutting edge of financial journalism.’

“Mr. Bloomberg has a standard response these days to inquiries about his interest in adding The F.T., currently owned by British company Pearson, to the financial media company that bears his name: ‘In fact, people are always telling me I should buy the F.T.,’ Mr. Bloomberg said. He paused for comic affect, adding: ‘I buy it everyday.’

“The Empire State Building glowed in a pink hue to celebrate the bisque-colored paper that got its start in Britain on May 1, 1888. The TV host Charlie Rose and the British advertising executive Martin Sorrell were among the guests who sipped pink champagne and vodka-spiked pink lemonade in the airy courtyard of the Academy Mansion near Central Park, a live jazz band playing in the background.”

Read more here.