NYSE Euronext (NYX) and Deutsche Boerse AG of Germany recently announced a merger that will create the world's largest financial exchange. NYSE is the world's largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization of its listed companies and Deutsche Boerse AG is the largest stock exchange operator in Germany. NYSE Euronext's main competitors are Nasdaq OMX (NDAQ) and CME Group (CME).

We have a price estimate of $34.77 for NYSE Euronext's stock, which stands below market price.

Continue reading NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Boerse Merger Spells Promising Margin Outlook

NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Boerse Merger Spells Promising Margin Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The future investment stars are already with us. The NYSE Financial Future Challenge, operated by the NYSE Foundation, By Kids for Kids, K12 Inc. and the United Investors Association, is in full swing, with five finalists just identified. To reach this level, the participants had to develop a new product, idea or process that would "excite, educate and motivate their peers" to become interested in the financial marketplace. The eventual winner lurks within this subset and will receive a $2,500 prize -- a great way to get that portfolio started. And, he or she will be feted at a closing bell ceremony at the NYSE (NYX) on January 11, 2010.

The finalists presented a variety of ideas which are sure to generate some buzz. Kelsey Foss, a 12-year-old from Mountainville, NY, proposed a new television show, "Stock Market Tycoon Idol," which would harness the popularity of reality TV while amping up the content. The program would involve the journeys of 10 kids as they seek to make money or lose it, with the possibility of becoming virtual millionaires along the way. The show would be set at a mock NYSE studio on Wall Street, and exports would be brought out to mentor the contestants. The reality TV reach would help engage a younger audience.

Continue reading Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge

Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The IPO market has been pretty slow for the past two years due to the effects of a subprime mortgage crisis that turned into a credit crisis that turned into a worldwide financial crisis and recession. Nonetheless, two companies made their debuts Thursday -- one on the NYSE (NYSE: NYX), the other on the NASDAQ -- and they nailed it. Hyatt Hotels (NYSE: H) gave its investors a 12% gain on its first Big Board trading day, and Ancestry.com (NASDAQ: ACOM) switched those digits, jumping 21% in its first day of trading.

Hyatt Hotels overcame two major concerns. The worldwide travel market slump has been tough on hotel companies, and Hyatt has been subject to the same forces as everyone else. Also, investors may have been worried about infighting among the founder's heirs (the Pritzker family), but the double-digit price increase suggests that investors don't foresee Bancroft-style squabbles screwing investors -- or, if you don't like Dow Jones, now a part of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS), Playboy (NYSE: PLA) makes the same point.

Continue reading Hyatt and Ancestry.com IPOs: Beginners' luck?

Hyatt and Ancestry.com IPOs: Beginners' luck? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With listed stocks getting knocked around, the New York Stock Exchange is considering extending temporary relief from listing requirements. Once a company is dropped from the exchange, it runs risks ranging from market cap loss to limited liquidity. But NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) CEO Duncan Niederauer was clear that the moves are not permanent. For now, the goal remains to protect companies that are at risk of being delisted. This comes after the S&P 500 fell 38% last year -- its worst performance since 1937.

The two rules that have been relaxed are the maintenance of a share price of at least $1 and a market cap of at least $15 million. The return of both measures was delayed back in April. Currently, 31 companies on the NYSE are at risk, including Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) and Lear Corp (NYSE: LEA).

Continue reading NYSE may extend listing rules relief

NYSE may extend listing rules relief originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading NYSE Euronext (NYX) drops on Q4 loss

NYSE Euronext (NYX) drops on Q4 loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: What's on your watch list?

Serious Money: What's on your watch list? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ: NDAQ) closed at $23.80. Bernard Madoff of Bernard Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested by Federal agents because his investment advisory business was a "giant Poinzi scheme" reports the Wall Street Journal. NDAQ January option implied volatility of 85 is above its 26-week average of 70 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) closed at $25.98. NYX January option implied volatility of 97 is above its 26-week average of 72 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Charles Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW) closed at $16.98. SCHW January option implied volatility of 99 is above its 26-week average of 61 according to Track Data, suggesting larger movement.

TD AmeriTrade (NASDAQ: AMTD) closed at $12.92. AMTD January option implied volatility of 82 is above its 26-week average of 60 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Capital liquidity providers volatility elevated into Madoff arrest (NDAQ, NYX, SCHW, AMTD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CME Group (NYSE: CME) shares are falling after competitor NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) reported a first-quarter profit above analysts' estimates. CME's earnings that disappointed investors two weeks ago look even worse in light of NYX's good results this morning. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on CME.

After hitting a one-year high of $714.48 in December, the stock hit a one-year low of $399.01 in March. This morning, CME opened at $487.00. So far today the stock has hit a low of $476.27 and a high of $487.65. As of 12:40, CME is trading at $481.03, down $8.32 (-1.7%). The chart for CME looks neutral but improving, while S&P gives the stock a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a June bear-call credit spread above the $550 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 9.9% return in six and a half weeks as long as CME is below $550 at June expiration. CME would have to rise by more than 14% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

Continue reading Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) falls on NYX earnings

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) falls on NYX earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 May 2008 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Once thought to be extremely safe, action rate securities have proved difficult to sell in this credit crisis. Tech companies are big holders of them and are taking charges left and right, including MetroPCS Communications Inc (NYSE: PCS), Palm Inc (NASDAQ: PALM) and Earthlink Inc (NASDAQ: ELNK), according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) is again urging Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO) to negotiate after it recommended that its stockholders not sell any of its shares to EA and help its $2B takeover bid, the Financial Times reported.

• NYSE Euronext Inc (NYSE: NYX) will look to increase its stakes in India's National Stock Exchange and the country's Multi Commodity Exchange, the Business Standard reported, once foreign ownership rules are eased. NYSE Euronext also intends to partner with the two Indian exchanges in order to help them develop their business.

• Business Week reported that Brian Marckx of Zacks Investment Research said Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) may be an attractive takeover candidate for a larger pharma such as Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) or France's Sanofi-Aventis SA (NYSE: SNY), both of which have been partners with Bristol on some of its products.

Newspaper wrap-up: Tech firm profits hurt by auction rate securities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The exchange stocks have been hot issues in the past few quarters as investors have been betting on increased trading activity from hedge funds, higher volatility, and so on.

But just this week, exchange stocks have received a beating harder than the markets as a whole. I believe that if a snapback rally occurs next week, these stocks should bounce back harder than the overall market. Two particular exchange stocks have appealing charts: CME Group (NYSE: CME) and NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX). Both of these charts display similar characteristics, as you can see below:

Continue reading Exchanges receiving a beating, is it time to buy?

Exchanges receiving a beating, is it time to buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can John Thain turn around Merrill Lynch? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Due to accelerating losses at its American consumer-lending unit, HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE: HBC) said it would take $3.4B in charges during its Q3, the Wall Street Journal reported. Despite the charges, the company said its Q3 operating income was up compared with the prior year due to revenue growth in the group.
• NYSE Euronext Inc (NYSE: NYX) CEO John Thain is not on the first short list of candidates being considered for the Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) CEO position, according to an inside source, the Financial Times reported.

• Lululemon Athletica Inc (NASDAQ: LULU), a standout performer on Wall Street, is reportedly under fire for potentially false claims of its VitaSea clothing line, which the company says is made from seaweed fiber supplied by SeaCell. According to lab tests, the New York Times reported there was no significant difference in the mineral levels between regular cotton T-shirts and Lululemon's VitaSea fabric.

Newspaper wrap-up: HSBC to take $3.4B in charges during Q3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This year has been a stock picker's market extraordinaire! This month's review provides ample evidence of this, as you'll note that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), which I included for fun because of its popularity, beat all else as a portfolio of one. The average of my seven picks came in second, beating James Cramer's average based on his nine picks. Both Cramer and I beat each of the three indices I am tracking, and therefore beat the average as well, with the largest and most stable, the Standard & Poor's 500 coming in last.

Of course, this could easily change given recent market volatility. A sharp downturn in the market could reverse our fortunes. A lot can happen in the remaining two months -- I take nothing for granted.

While Google shined brightly this year, Cramer and I have each made one pick that shined brighter. Cramer's best, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has gone into orbit this year on the wings of the iPhone, iPod, and growing Mac sales. Benefiting from rising oil prices, shortages in China and the Chinese government allowing a 10% price hike, my PetroChina ADR (NYSE: PTR) has rocketed, becoming the second-largest capitalized company in the world. PTR has done this even in the shadow of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) selling its shares and Warren Buffett questioning the huge appreciation of the Chinese stock market and stocks overall.

Continue reading Chasing down 007 picks: AAPL +135%, PTR +85%, GOOG +53%, & VLO +36%

Chasing down 007 picks: AAPL +135%, PTR +85%, GOOG +53%, & VLO +36% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to a person briefed on the situation, Merrill Lynch & Co Inc's (NYSE: MER) CEO Stan O'Neal was negotiating the terms of his forced departure on Sunday and the departure is expected to be announced on Monday. The top contenders for the CEO position are said to be BlackRock Inc's (NYSE: BLK) CEO Laurence Fink and NYSE Euronext Inc's (NYSE: NYX) CEO John Thain, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• The WSJ also reported that Alibaba.com raised $1.5B after the company priced its IPO at HK$13.50, at the top-end of the HK$12-$HK13.50 range. Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) holds a 39% stake in Alibaba Group.

• Ness Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: NSTC) was awarded a contract worth NIS 5 Million to convert the pension fund data managed by Opal Future Technologies, Globes reported.
• Indian company Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited (NYSE: RDY) is set to attempt to raise its share of the U.S. over the counter drug market by partnering with at least six more U.S. retail chains; the company plans to launch up to 10 drugs over the next 12 months that could become OTC offerings in the U.S., the Economic Times reported.

• According to TechCrunch, IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) may have submitted a letter of intent to acquire movie-centered social network Flixter over the last week or so.

Newspaper wrap-up: Merrill Lynch CEO negotiates terms of forced departure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage

NYSE Euronext (NYX) soars on addition to S&P 500 and S&P 100 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Before the bell: BSC, MSFT, NYX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Nasdaq Stock Exchange (NASDAQ: NDAQ) is close to a deal with the exchange in Dubai, Borse Dubai, that would have the Middle East operation buy 19.9% of Nasdaq and all of Nasdaq's 31% ownership in the London Stock Exchange. It turn, The Dubai investment in Nasdaq would allow the US exchange to buy the Swedish OMX exchange. Dubai and Nasdaq have been rivals for the Swedish deal.

If the arrangement sounds complicated, it is because it is. Nasdaq has spent two years trying to match the deal made by NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) to buy European exchange Euronext to create a transatlantic powerhouse. Nasdaq tried to buy the London Stock Exchange, but was rebuffed, but ending up owning 31% of the British stock market company.

The deal between Nasdaq and Dubai may be an elegant but complex way to end their rivalry over buying OMX. It allows Dubai to be a powerhouse in the global exchange business by owning a huge piece of of the Nasdaq/OMX combination. And, Dubai also ends up with a big stake in England's largest exchange. But, to close the deal will require this complex four-way link-up.

Nasdaq has been viewed an an operation that could not seal a deal to get an overseas presence. With the current cross ownership plan, it may have created a set of partnerships so complex that they cannot be managed. It is not clear whether Nasdaq and Dubai may eventually have competing interests in place like London where Dubai is becoming a major player.

But, the entire set of purchases seems like a mess bound to get worse over time.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 247wallst.com.

Nasdaq close to creating huge global exchange originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No surprise the volatile James Cramer of TheStreet.com carries the burden of having made the best and worst picks for the year among those I've been tracking monthly. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), the best performer among all the stocks and indices in this review, has saved his rear throughout the year. In general, it has been a good year for energy and tech stocks. It has been a poor year for the financial sector, and as of August, for most of the Wall Street investment firms.

August had some gut wrenching moments but finished on a positive note. Still, the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 14,000 level has not been seen since the financial sector gave the bears something to grouse about. The housing market and subprime loans continue to worry the market, but no help is expected in the form of rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

Crude oil prices have been up slightly, but down at the pump even through the busy Labor Day weekend and even with continued turmoil in Iraq. All the speculation about a Dow 15,000...16,000...17,000 has come and gone and I have not read about such silliness lately.

Continue reading Chasing down 007 picks: GOOG tops, Cramer scrapes by indices

Chasing down 007 picks: GOOG tops, Cramer scrapes by indices originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NYSE Euronext (NYX) up on record July volume originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer's CME & DJIA, full speed ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.