Deutsche Börse has reportedly made an informal offer to merge with Euronext and held discussions with its pan-European rival last weekend. In a separate development, Rudolf Ferscha, chief executive of the German exchange's derivatives arm, is believed to be preparing to quit.

French newspaper, Le Figaro, reports that Jean-François Théodore, chief executive of Euronext, has called for meetings with Euronext shareholders and members of the influential Paris Europlace group of French financial companies about the tie-up in the coming weeks. It does not cite sources.