The paper, citing sources close to the businessman, said Deripaska saw the investment as a speculative move on the stock market rather than the start of a takeover attempt.

"He is making no secret of it (the investment). Some of his business partners are already aware," one unnamed associate told the newspaper.

Deripaska's holding company, Basic Element, could not be immediately reached to comment on the report.

General Motors, the largest US automaker, posted its third straight quarterly profit in the second quarter this year in a further sign of revival after a string of financial losses.

After losing 3.4 billion dollars (2.5 billion euros) in the same period last year, GM reported an 891-million-dollar gain for the second quarter.