PHLX and Amex in play

Nasdaq and Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) appear to be moving closer to a tie-up, a move that would provide Nasdaq with a significant share of the US equity options business.

PHLX, which ranks third in options maketshare be-hind Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and International Securities Exchange (ISE), has been on the selling block for more than a year. Nasdaq announced its plan to become the seventh exchange to offer equity options in the US by the third quarter this year last September (see FO Week Vol...