Shares in supermarket operator Tesco fell up to 6 per cent in London yesterday following a weekend press report that the company planned a £3 billion sterling (€4.8 billion) bid for Real, Germany's biggest hypermarket. The Financial Mail on Sunday said Tesco was in advanced talks about a deal to buy the 260-store Real chain, owned by retail giant Metro AG, as part of a plan to boost its overseas presence.

Yet analysts expressed doubt over the report and said such a move would run counter to Tesco's previously stated priorities.