But, "what may prove more lucrative is ownership of growing venues for trading options, futures and derivatives whose profit margins are 57 percent more than equities at NYSE Euronext."

Just call this new adventure "MarginQuest". Just what the world needs -- more profitable futures and derivatives trading. What I wonder is if this might be a good deal for US taxpayers. If the NYSE Euronext-Deutsche Börse is 60% owned by a German based firm who will bear primary responsibility when we have a major derivatives debacle? But then only the Germans seem to excel the Americans at sweeping problems under the rug. Merkel would likely claim that the problem was created by the Americans so they should clean it up while US politicians would say that the exchange is 60% owned by the Germans so they should fix it.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."