The leaders of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse, which yesterday confirmed the agreement of a landmark deal to merge by the end of the year, have said they are already eyeing further deals with Asian markets in a bid to create the first truly global exchange group.

The two exchanges yesterday approved a historic deal to create the world's "premier global exchange" that would be 60%-owned by Deutsche Börse and 40%-owned by NYSE Euronext. The new company is set to be jointly headquartered in Frankfurt and New York, and would retain key operational centres in London, Luxembourg and Paris.