Deutsche Boerse is in talks to tie up with peer NYSE Euronext , two people familiar with the matter said after trading in the two companies' shares was halted amid heavy speculation about a team-up.

They are speaking about a merger, one of the people, a senior financial source familiar with Deutsche Boerse, said on Wednesday.

Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext both declined to comment.

Trading in Deutsche Boerse shares was halted on Wednesday after speculation of a potential merger deal between the two was pending.

Speculation was fueled by a separate deal in which London Stock Exchange is to buy Canada's TMX to claw back lost market share and create the world's fourth-largest bourse trading $4.1 trillion of stock a year. Deutsche Boerse share were up 1.7 percent at 58.42 euros just before trading was halted, while NYSE Euronext shares were up 5.1 percent in New York. (Reporting by Edward Taylor, Philipp Halstrick and Arno Schuetze; Writing by Harro ten Wolde)

Canada NYSE Euronext New york city