A large number of staff at Oriel Securities have left the UK mid-cap broker in the past two weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter, as fresh takeover rumours surround the firm.

Departures include Sarah Ing, a specialist financials analyst, and Steve Keeling in specialist financial sales. Edward Stanford, a transport and leisure analyst, has also left, along with Harry Philips, an industrials analyst, Gareth Price, a property banker; and Matt Saperia, a real estate analyst.