Idea denies merger talks, stock slips nearly 3%

New Delhi: Shares of Idea Cellular fell by nearly 3% today after the company denied reports that the telecom firm is exploring options and is in talks for a possible merger with Vodafone. The scrip fell 2.58% to end at Rs 98.20 on the BSE. It went down 2.62% on the NSE to settle at Rs 98.35. On the volume front, 11.48 lakh shares of the company were traded on the BSE and over 1 crore changed hands at the NSE during the day.  In a clarification to the BSE yesterday following reports that Idea Cellular was exploring options for strategic deal with Vodafone, the company said, “We would like to inform that the said news item is absolutely untrue and preposterous.” PTI