Nissan is still holding “various discussions” with Honda, the carmaker said Wednesday in response to media reports that it is set to scrap merger talks with its larger rival. The two Japanese companies announced in December that they would conduct negotiations over the following six months on a possible merger,

Honda Motor's U.S.-listed shares are rising in premarket trading following reports that the Japanese automaker’s plans to merge with ailing domestic rival Nissan are in jeopardy.