The two main stock markets in the US have acquired
smaller rivals to take advantage of their electronic trading
technologies.
The New York Stock Exchange plans to merge with Archipelago
Holdings, an all-electronic exchange founded eight years ago. And
Nasdaq is buying Inet, Instinet Group's e-trading platform for
$934m (£518m).
Both deals await regulatory and shareholder approval.
The New York Stock Exchange said the combined operation would
make hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings. The
Archipelago electronic trading system will work in parallel with
the New York stock market's trading floor system.
