The trader has been targeted by short sellers of late amid reports it would struggle to meet a $735m bond payment this week.

In a statement on Monday Noble said it had become aware of "misleading information" being spread about the company that appeared to be "an attempt to manipulate its share price".

It added the misleading and untruthful information will be positively resolved when it reports its second quarter accounts which will now be released earlier on 10 August.