UBS share price increases

UBS shares jumped more than 3% on the Swiss exchange on Friday after a US news outlet reported the bank is weighing a merger with a foreign rival and a move of its head office

Semafor Business cited unnamed sources and floated Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered as possible partners.

The rumour started days after the Council of States voted to make UBS hold 90% capital coverage on its foreign subsidiaries, well above the 50% the bank had hoped to negotiate.

Parliamentarians on both left and right accused the bank of applying "maximum pressure" as the National Council prepares to debate the same rules.

UBS declined to comment. Similar speculation flared in March, when Sergio Ermotti insisted the head office would stay in Switzerland.

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