IntercontinentalExchange agreed a $8 billion deal to purchase New York Stock Exchange owner NYSE Euronext on Thursday, propelling the commodities player into the big league of European derivatives and helping it to take on arch rival CME Group.ICE will look at selling Euronext, NYSE's European stock market business, in an initial public offering after the deal closes in the second half of next year."Our transaction is responsive to the evolution of market infrastructure today and offers a range of growth opportunities," ICE Chairman and CEO Jeff Sprecher said in a statement.ICE will buy NYSE, which also owns derivatives market Liffe, for $33.12 per share in stock and cash, a 37 percent premium to its Wednesday closing price and valuing NYSE Euronext at $8.2 billion.
CME Group Inc. (CME Group) offers a range of global products across all asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate. Shares of CME remained unchanged at $52.63. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $44.94 and as high as $60.92. On average, 1842100 shares of CME exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 4300.
NYSE Euronext is a global operator of financial markets and provider of trading solutions. Shares of NYX remained unchanged at $24.05. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.25 and as high as $31.25. On average, 2618730 shares of NYX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 228939.
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