Dixons Retail, the owner of Currys and PC World, and mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse have said they are in talks over a possible merger.

The companies said the talks were at a very early stage and there could be no certainty a merger would take place.

They also said no decision had been made on how a deal might be structured.

Dixons operates more than 500 Currys and PC World stores in the UK and Ireland. Carphone Warehouse operates more than 2,000 stores across Europe.

Dixons Retail also owns the Elkjop group in the Nordic region and the Kotsovolos retail business in Greece.

Shares in both companies rose on news of the merger talks. Dixons Retail climbed 5.3%, while Carphone Warehouse was up 1%.

Source: BBC