Exclusive: CME May Launch Hostile Bid for NYSE

Perhaps feeling left out of the merger action in the exchange world, the CME Group (NYSE:CMX) is discussing its own options.

Sources told FOX Business’s Charles Gasparino that the CME Group is considering a strategic response to the preliminary merger of NYSE Euronext (NYSE:NYX) and Deutsche Borse.

In fact, the CME Group may pursue its own hostile bid for NYSE Euronext, the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, banking sources told FOX Business.

However, it’s not clear if regulators would sign off on such a merger as the CME Group already operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade and the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The apparent discussions come less than a week after NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Borse confirmed they are in advanced talks to merge in a deal that would hand control of the iconic NYSE to a German company.

According to The Wall Street Journal, NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Borse are likely to unveil their merger on Tuesday, creating the world’s largest stock market operator. No new sticking points were raised on the potential deal when NYSE Euronext directors met on Sunday, the paper reported.

After surging last week, shares of NYSE Euronext received another boost on Monday afternoon from the FOX Business report, jumping on heavy volume to session highs of $38.55 from $37.80 minutes before. Shares of CME had a more muted reaction, slipping 0.05% to $308.67.

Headquartered in Chicago, the CME Group became the first U.S. exchange to go public in 2002. It officially merged with CBOT in 2007 to form CME Group and then added NYMEX to its portfolio in 2008.

Last year CME acquired a controlling stake of Dow Jones Indexes, which includes the Dow Jones Industrial Average, from News Corp.’s (NASDAQ:NWSA) Dow Jones unit. News Corp. is the parent of FOX Business and the Journal .