Australian retailer Coles has fallen by about 2 per cent after reports surfaced that US private equity group TPG had walked away from the bid process.
This would leave Wesfarmers' $19.7 billion bid as the only offer on the table.
Coles this morning rejected the reports, saying it had not been informed of any group walking away from discussions.
The consortium said it had not announced whether it was withdrawing from the bid process but would not comment further.
Coles slipped 34 cents to $16.56, while Wesfarmers added 62 cents to $44.90.
The Bendigo Bank Board has rejected a revised informal offer from the Bank of Queensland.
The Bank of Queensland says it will no longer seek a merger of the two banks.
Bendigo Bank has added four cents to $16.37.
The Bank of Queensland has slipped thirteen cents to $17.81.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has fallen by 10 cents to $28.06, despite Dow Jones announcing the board would take over discussions of any possible sale.
The Bankcroft family, which owns a controlling stake in Dow Jones, previously conducted the discussions.
Sigma Pharmaceuticals has announced it is still interested in buying parts of Symbion Health.
Sigma's earlier bid was rejected after it failed to meet a deadline.
Symbion Health has fallen by nine cents to $4.16
Sigma Pharmaceuticals has fallen by three cents to $2.23.
Shortly before 5:15pm AEST, the Australian dollar was buying 84.5 US cents, 42 British pence, 63 euros and 104 Japanese yen.
A barrel of West Texas crude oil was $US68.05. Spotgold was fetching $US655 an ounce. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
