Analyst:NASDAQ Exchange May Be Acquired By Asians

Ed Ditmire,Capital Markets Analyst at Macquarie Group Limited,thinks the NASDAQ/OMX Group,the Times Square-based stock exchange,is characterized by efficiency and lower growth,with an equity emphasis.It is pressured by the forthcoming merger of Deutsche Boerse-NYSE/Euronext,but seems to be more of a target than an acquirer.
A large Asian exchange such as Hong Kong may go after NASDAQ/OMX.After all,Hong Kong uses the NASDAQ trading system.
Mr.Ditmire is very positive on the stock exchange sector.There are better business trends now,with more mergers and acquisitions.It's hard to rule out any deal as having no merit.
NASDAQ/OMX is reportedly considering a range of options to respond to the NYSE deal,from launching a rival bid for NYSE with a partner,to buying another exchange,as well as possibly selling itself.The company fears being marginalised.
Macquarie Group Limited is a full service financial firm with 15,500 employees.It is based in Sydney,Australia and has 300 billion dollars under management.
Macquarie Group Limited(MQG),NASDAQ/OMX Group(NDAQ)

Shanghai Develops Its Exchange

The Shanghai stock exchange is a growing proposition.It recently introduced stock index futures to its offerings,although it has only one-fifth of the volume of the New York exchanges and still needs a completely convertible currency.Shanghai is seeking to become a global financial center by 2020,and many new skyscrapers and apartment blocks have been built there in the past few years to support that ambition.
Dr.Fang Xinghai,Director General,Office of Financial Services,Shanghai Metropolitan Government,admitted that the Shanghai stock market is still largely closed to outsiders,but it is being opened up gradually.It will be a market of global size.Although it is not open yet,you can still call it a global financial center.The first logical step would be to open up the outflow capital account,so that their savings may be used more efficiently throughout the world.
The British bank HSBC has expressed an interest in selling shares in Shanghai.Initially,it was just financial companies who wanted to list there.Later,manufacturing firms,telecoms and consumer companies all expressed an interest.Even now,the Shanghai exchange is among the leaders in commodities futures,Mr.Fang asserted.