Nasdaq on Thursday sought to clarify statements made by its chief executive, Bob Greifeld, on what it plans to do with its 28.75 per cent stake in the London Stock Exchange in the event its hostile £12.43-a-share bid fails.

The US exchange said it may or may not sell that stake if the bid fails. It also said it had no plans to support a call for an extraordinary general meeting to oust the LSE's management.