** Madame Tussauds operator Merlin Entertainmentsshares rise as much as 12.8 pct, their highest intraday pct gainon record
** Stock among top gainers on FTSE 250
** Co posts 9.5 percent rise in 2017 core earnings,benefitting from an increase in global visitors.
** Records 66 million worldwide visitors in 2017, up 3.5percent
** Merlin, which also runs Legoland, the London Eye and SeaLife, adds it "highly confident" of the long-term prospects forits business
** Brokerage Peel Hunt sees more evidence of increased capexdriving the business in second half;
** Results were broadly in line, with strong result inLegoland Parks offsetting continued weakness in Midway andResort Theme Parks - Liberum
** Shares in Merlin fell ~40 pct in the past 12 months
