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Mergers ~ NYMEX to combine energy trading pits in April
Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:51pm EDT

NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - The New York Mercantile
Exchange will combine its energy trading pits into one
petroleum ring and move its metals trading pits to the same
main trading floor, starting next month, a NYMEX spokeswoman
said on Thursday.

"This is part of the synergies that we had planned last
year, when we merged with the CME Group Inc (CME.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)," said the
spokeswoman, Anu Ahluwalia.

On April 6, the RBOB gasoline futures and the heating oil
futures pits will move into the crude futures pit, she said.

The natural gas futures trading pit will move to the former
heating oil futures pit on April 20, she said.

Then, on May 18, the gold, silver, and copper trading pits,
currently in another floor, will move to the main trading
floor, she said.

"Before the pits are moved, we will hold mock trading
sessions to familiarize traders with the changes," Ahluwalia
said.

NYMEX Holdings Inc was acquired by CME Group Inc in August
last year in an $8.2-billion merger deal.

The merger added NYMEX's dominant energy and metals
contracts to CME's product mix, which already includes
contracts based on U.S. interest rates, stock indexes,
currencies, agricultural products and esoteric products, such
as those based on weather patterns and housing prices.
(Reporting by Gene Ramos; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idAFN1234864120090312?rpc=44