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OMX

Government advisors give thumbs up for OMX-Nasdaq deal

The offer from Nasdaq and Borse Dubai for OMX is a positive development for the Nordic stock exchange operator, according to a report by the Financial Markets Advisory Committee.

“We believe that Nasdaq OMX will be better able to retain and improve liquidity, turnover, and placements in the Nordic region than OMX could achieve on its own, considering the stronger brand and increased capacity for innovation,” said committee’s chair Kerstin Hessius in a press release.

The Advisory Committee’s final report, which was released on Friday, also found that Nasdaq OMX could better supply a modern marketplace than OMX could on its own.

If OMX continued independently, there was a risk that the exchange could lose turnover from larger companies to other larger exchanges.

“And it is the large cap stocks that generate profits,” said Hessius.

The Financial Markets Advisory Committee was created in 2006 to advise the government on how to strengthen Stockholm’s position as a financial center.

In the report, the committee also stated that the government ought to review current law to ensure that American regulations aren’t applied to the Stockholm stock exchange as a result of the deal.

“We don’t believe that it could happen in reality. However, the mere concern may cause companies to list elsewhere,” added Hessius.

Hessius believes the deal will have a marginal impact on any specific company choosing to list on the Stockholm exchange.

Nor will the deal make it simpler to purchase American stocks simply because Nasdaq is taking over OMX.

In January, OMX’s board approved the all-cash 265 kronor ($49.95) per share bid from Emirates-based Borse Dubai, and the subsequent planned acquisition by Nasdaq, following approval for the deal from U.S. regulators.

OMX operates exchanges in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Reykjavik, Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius.

STOCKS

Stockholm stock market hits new all-time high

The Stockholm stock exchange closed at a record high on Wednesday, with the OMXS index climbing 1.4 percent to smash the previous record set in 2007.

Stockholm stock market hits new all-time high

The OMXS closed at 430.6, besting by more than three points the previous record of 427.2 set in July 2007.

"Finally, after more than five years, we've come up to the all-time high," Nordea stock strategist Martin Guri told the TT news agency.

The Stockholm stock market's advanced was in line with developments on other exchanges around the world, and can be attributed to a new World Bank forecast indicting advances in global economic growth. Strong retail sales statistics from the United States helped as well.

Guri rejected any notion that the Stockholm exchange's recent rise was any sort of bubble, but is simply a continuation of a strong 2013.

"We had the worst financial and economic crisis since the 1930s. Now we can say that we've left it behind and are moving on to the next chapter," he said.

"The market could rise somewhere between ten and 20 percent this year."

He added that there are many signs of economic improvements, and while economic growth may not be strong, risks have deteriorated, bolstering investor confidence. 

Guri cited central banks in the US, Japan, and the eurozone for stimulating stock market growth.

"They've promised financial markets they plan to keep interest rates low," he said.

Wednesday's OMXS rise was led by heavyweights such as retailer H&M and bank Nordea, which climbed 2.7 percent and three percent, respectively, as the Swedish fashion retailer reported better than expected sales results for December.

Other market winners on Wednesday included pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, telecom equipment maker Ericsson, and truck maker Scania, all of which rose by around two percent.

The Swedish krona weakened slightly against the dollar, which can now buy 6.48 kronor. The krona-euro exchange rate remain unchanged, at 8.80 kronor to the euro.

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