Shell has denied reports that it is in takeover talks with BP, following a Wall Street Journal claim that early-stage discussions were underway

Of course they denied it, but probably quite true. Someone on the inside couldn't keep their mouth shut!

Shell shot down the takeover chatter, so the hype cooled fast—no merger drama on the table right now. Traders jumped on the rumors at first, sparking some volatility, but Shell’s denial brought price action back to baseline. Still, the energy sector is on watch in case anything real bubbles up. Curious how sentiment could shift if new info drops? Let’s break it down further. Get the latest market reads and what’s brewing behind the scenes: