BP shares surge on report that rival Shell could acquire it
CBSN
BP shares jumped as much as 10% after the Wall Street Journal reported that rival Shell is in early talks to acquire the British oil company.
Shares of BP jumped $3.11, or 10%, to $32.94 in early afternoon trading. U.S.-listed shares of Shell, which is also U.K.-based, meanwhile, slid 3%.
A potential deal, which is said to be in the early discussion stage, would put Shell in a position to rival competitors ExxonMobil and Chevron, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the discussions. If it were to occur, such a merger would mark the largest oil deal in decades.

As the Trump administration continues to prepare military options for strikes in Iran, U.S. allies in the Mideast, including Turkey, Oman and Qatar, are attempting to head off that possibility by brokering diplomatic talks, multiple regional officials told CBS News. Camilla Schick and Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.

Another winter storm may be headed toward the East Coast of the United States this weekend, on the heels of a powerful and deadly system that blanketed huge swaths of the country in snow and ice. The effects of that original storm have lingered for many areas in its path, and will likely remain as repeated bouts of Arctic air plunge downward from Canada and drive temperatures below freezing. Nikki Nolan contributed to this report. In:











