Johannesburg - Rumours that emerging markets bank Standard Chartered is poised to take over Nedbank boosted banking stocks on the JSE on Wednesday.
UK-based Sky News is reporting in an exclusive that Standard Chartered is plotting a multi-billion pound takeover of Nedbank [JSE:NED]. The news agency said that talks have apparently already started, although they are still at a relatively early stage.
In response, the two companies said they do not comment on market rumours.
"That rumour has been around for a while now. We don't comment on speculation and rumour. If it was something official then maybe we'd talk," said Don Bowden, investor relations consultant at Nedbank.
"That's market speculation and our policy is that we don't comment on market speculation," said a Standard Chartered South Africa spokesperson.
By 12:30 Nedbank was trading almost 3.5% higher at R139.75. Associate Old Mutual [JSE:OML] was 4.38% stronger at 1 312c.
The JSE's banks index was up 1.6% by noon.
- I-Net Bridge