Bank Leumi in talks to sell cable firm HOT stake

JERUSALEM, March 2 (Reuters) - Bank Leumi (LUMI.TA: Quote, Profile, Research), one of Israel's largest banks, said on Sunday it was in talks to sell shares in cable operator HOT (HOT.TA: Quote, Profile, Research).

Leumi holds a 15 percent stake in HOT.

"During the last year the bank has held negotiations with various parties with regard to the sale of its shares in HOT," Leumi said.

"The bank is currently engaged in negotiations with a number of parties in relation to the sale, but none of these negotiations has yet reached fruition," it added without elaborating.

Shares of HOT were down 1.3 percent at 51.10 shekels in late trading in Tel Aviv, compared with losses of 2.8 percent on the broader bourse. Leumi's shares were 3 percent lower at 16.74 shekels.

($1=3.66 shekels)

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Erica Billingham)