** Shares of Australia's Sigma Healthcare soar as much as 38.8% to a record high of A$2.70
** SIG shares mark their best intraday pct gain since mid-December 2023, top gainers in the ASX200 benchmark index
** More than 17.6 mln shares change hands, vs the 30-day average of 9.5 mln shares
** Wholesale pharmaceuticals distributor SIG receives Australian competition watchdog's approval for an A$8.8 bln ($5.78 bln) merger with Chemist Warehouse
** Regulator says merger unlikely to substantially lessen competition; SIG needs to lift restrictions over franchises allowing them to opt out of agreement without penalties, making it easier for pharmacies to switch network
** SIG shares have more than doubled in value so far this year, rising 152%, leaving the ASX200 benchmark's 7.8% gain far behind
($1 = 1.5230 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Kumar Tanishk and Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru)
((Tanishk.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))
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