Glencore and Xstrata could be set for a £50 billion merger as early as next week.

Xstrata, a Switzerland-based coal and copper mining firm, announced that it had received an approach from commodities broker Glencore.

However Glencore was keen to stress that there was no certainty an offer would be made, but the business now has until 1 March 2012 to formally submit a bid.

The announcement sent shares in Xstrata soaring, trading up over 12 per cent in early trading before slipping back, currently up 9.11 per cent at 1,221.5p.

Glencore, which has seen its stock fall 16 per cent since its IPO in May last year, is also up 4.74 per cent at 452.2p.

Chris Beauchamp, market analyst at IG Index, commented, ‘It looks as if this merger might even be agreed by next Tuesday, when Xstrata is scheduled to update the market on its current trading.

‘Glencore already owns 34 per cent of Xstrata, so the companies are already familiar with one another.

‘The newly merged company will look to cut costs in order to boost returns, with bankers suggesting that synergies of around $700 million can be achieved.’

Beauchamp also predicted that the merger could spark a flurry of acquisitions and mergers among the other FTSE 100 miners, similar to the activity seen following the merger of BHP and Billiton in 2001.