00:01Oil giant Shell says it has quote no intention of making an offer for its UK rival company BP and that no such talks between the two have taken place. The firm was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that suggested there were discussions regarding a 70 billion euro takeover, which would create a massive energy group worth more than 235 billion euros.
00:27BP's share price jumped after the report was published. In line with the UK takeover code, Shell's announcement means that it can't submit another bid for six months unless certain conditions change.
