NEW YORK (Bloomberg) - MF Global Ltd., the world's largest broker of exchange-traded futures and options, declined to comment on unusual trading in its shares, according to the New York Stock Exchange.

Hamilton, Bermuda-based MF Global rose $1.45, or 14.5 percent, to $11.47 at 4.15pm in New York Stock Exchange composite trading after earlier gaining as much as 33 percent. Before Friday the shares had lost two-thirds of their value since late February after a trader lost $141.5 million in bad wheat trades and rumors spread of customers pulling money from the broker as Bear Stearns Cos. neared bankruptcy.

The NYSE contacted MF Global on Friday about the rise in its shares and the broker "stated that its policy is not to comment on unusual market activity," according to an NYSE statement on its website. The stock exchange "requested that the company issue a public statement indicating whether there are any corporate developments which may explain the unusual market activity".

MF Global spokeswoman Diana Desocio declined to comment.

The company's shares pared their gains after the Wall Street Journal reported it was seeking financing for debt due in June.

MF Global is working with investment bank Lazard Ltd. to fund $350 million of outstanding borrowings maturing in June under a bridge loan, the newspaper said, citing a person familiar with the negotiations. Alternatives for raising the capital include selling shares, issuing convertible or other long-term debt or selling a minority stake in the company, according to the paper.

The company's shares rose today on rumors of a takeover, the Journal said. Debt due in June is worth about 20 percent of the company's current value of $1.5 billion, the paper said. Ms Desocio did not immediately return a call for comment on the Wall Street Journal report.

MF Global yesterday named former TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. executive J Randy MacDonald as chief financial officer three months after that position was vacated.