IntercontinentalExchange Inc and NYSE Euronext are in talks about a possible merger, which may be structured as a takeover of NYSE, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.The report comes more than a year after ICE had jointly bid with Nasdaq OMX Group Inc to purchase NYSE for about $11 billion, then break it up into parts that each of them would acquire. That bid competed with a plan by German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse AG to acquire NYSE in a $9.3 billion all-stock deal.But neither proposed deal was successful, and questions have lingered about NYSE's future as the U.S. exchange seeks to increase its exposure to derivatives and commodities trading, as well as trading abroad.Shares of NYSE jumped 12 percent in after-hours trading to $26.96; ICE shares rose 3.1 percent to $132.32. At the close of trading on Wednesday, NYSE was worth about $5.8 billion.
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (ICE) is an operator of global futures exchanges, over-the-counter (OTC), markets, derivatives clearing houses and post-trade services. Shares of ICE traded higher by 0.21% or $0.27/share to $128.31. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $110.67 and as high as $142.75. On average, 446876 shares of ICE exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1694208.
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ OMX) is a holding company. Shares of NDAQ traded higher by 0.04% or $0.01/share to $25.22. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $21.03 and as high as $27.34. On average, 1347490 shares of NDAQ exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1486306.
NYSE Euronext is a global operator of financial markets and provider of trading solutions. Shares of NYX traded higher by 0.88% or $0.21/share to $24.05. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.25 and as high as $31.25. On average, 2622250 shares of NYX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3286236.
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