The collapse of the London Stock Exchange's merger with TMX Group last week has thrown the future of the UK exchange into the open – with speculation increasing that Nasdaq OMX will revive its 2006 attempted tie-up with its European rival.

Analysts are openly discussing how the merger would allow the two exchanges to further globalise and diversify their respective franchises, particularly as they will face a formidable rival emerging from a proposed tie-up between NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse.