There followed a series of speculative reports linking reelin's genetic variation and interactions to schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, autism and other highly complex dysfunctions.

Exclusion criteria consisted of a document pertaining to non-manual procedures, lack of sufficient tests or data, and anecdotal, speculative or editorial reports.

John Lampl, a spokesman for British Airways in New York, said the carrier would have no comment on speculative reports.

Yesterday, Yorkshire described as speculative a report in The Sunday Telegraph that a deal had been reached.

A Carter Hawley spokesman, Bill Dombroski, said that the company had a policy of not commenting on speculative reports.

A spokesman for the Bush transition team said that he would not comment on "speculative" reports that Mr. Bush may defer the next round of talks.

As it has been three years since this speculative report and no announcement has been made, it must be assumed that these rumors were false.

CNET quotes an undisclosed source in its speculative report: "Microsoft is considering offering Windows 7 on a thumb drive to allow netbook owners to more easily upgrade their machines."

Meanwhile, Bob Diamond, the chief executive of Barclays, which avoided a state bailout, has rejected as "completely speculative" reports that his bank is preparing to pay its investment bankers a total of £5bn, including salary.

The inquiry is still in its early stages, and we are not prepared to comment on speculative reports in the media.