Fresh from retreating from the Australian insurance market, Dutch – Belgian Group Fortis is not commenting on the renewed rumours of merger talks with British bank Lloyds TSB. The rumours stem from Lloyds’ announcement last week that it will seek a deal in Europe after the British government blocked its bid for Abbey National – which is now rumoured to have the National Australia Bank running a ruler over it.

A Fortis spokesman said the company isn’t interested in the British market. It would also probably disappear from sight if it fell to the giant British bank.