Plans by IntercontinentalExchange to float Euronext if its bid for NYSE Euronext succeeds effectively puts a for sale sign up over the European stock markets business.The two exchanges plan to "explore" an initial public offering (IPO) of Euronext if ICE's $8 billion bid for NYSE Euronext goes ahead in the second half of 2013 as planned.ICE wants NYSE Euronext's European futures unit Liffe rather than Euronext, which is made up of the French, Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese national stock markets.These have in recent years been squeezed by increasing competition from new entrants such as Bats Chi-X Europe and lower trading levels as a result of the financial crisis.
NYSE Euronext is a global operator of financial markets and provider of trading solutions. Shares of NYX traded higher by 33.35% or $8.02/share to $32.07. 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 72686384.
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