Merger partners, Deutsche Börse and NYSE Euronext, may cut the German bourse’s stake in U.S. exchange, Direct Edge, The Wall Street Journal reports. The two are considering selling additional ownership stakes in Direct Edge to U.S. banks and trading firms in exchange for a slice of their stock-trading business. The all-electronic exchanges run by Direct Edge have pulled U.S. share-trading activity away from the NYSE’s Big Board since its launch six years ago. Deutsche Börse owns around a one-third stake in the business through its derivatives units.

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