John A. Thain, the CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, confirmed the fact that the NYSE will not bid for the London Stock Exchange, wooed at the moment by two other suitors, Germany’s Deutsche Börse and Amsterdam-based Euronext.

“We’re starting to see China companies listing. We’re starting to see Indian companies. Those are two big growth areas," he said. But that doesn’t mean Thain is abandoning Europe.

But the struggle for the European companies goes on. Mr. Thain has voiced a controversial intention to open the exchange two hours earlier, which would mean the traders, specialists and other people working in a challenging NYSE environment would have to get up two hours earlier. Whether the New York trading community will oblige remains to be seen.

The earlier opening hours would help to persuade more foreign companies that are struggling with compliance with the tough US regulations, in particular the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to list in New York. The chief attraction of the US market remains the large pool of investors, and a wide array of companies represented.
"If you want to access that market, the best way is to list in New York," said Mr. Thain.

Besides, Europe is toughening regulations. The Securities & Exchange Commission on the contrary has said it will give foreign companies more time to comply.