(Reuters) - Britain's antitrust watchdog is launching an investigation into whether U.S. exchange operator CME Group's (O:CME) $5.5 billion (4.21 billion pounds) acquisition of NEX Group (L:NXGN) will lessen competition, the regulator said on Thursday.
CME agreed to buy NEX in March, creating a cross-border powerhouse for investors trading in the multi-trillion dollar foreign exchange and government debt markets.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would announce by Nov. 8 whether it will refer the deal for an in-depth investigation.