Duke silent on rumored Latin America merger

Duke Energy is saying nothing further today about reports it is in talks to sell or combine its Latin American operations with Paris-based GDF Suez SA.

Published reports on the alleged deal originated with Brazil's Valor Economico newspaper, which cited confidential sources. Duke, in a Brazilian regulatory filing, called it a "pure market rumor," reports say.

Valor Economico reported that the deal would create an electricity generator worth $18.8 billion, with a combined capacity of 15,000 megawatts.

Duke Energy International operates power plants with generating capacity of 4,000 megawatts, 70 percent of it from hydroelectric plants, in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Central America.