The London Stock Exchange Group has reported a 31 percent jump in adjusted pre-tax profit for 2015.<br /><br /> That was just short of what analysts were hoping for and its share price fell on Friday. <br /><br /> Announcing the results LSE – which also owns Borsa Italiana – said detailed discussions are continuing with Germany’s Deutsche Boerse about a merger.<br /><br /> It called the logic of a tie-up between the two “compelling“with substantial revenue and cost benefits for the pan-European trading powerhouse it would create.<br /><br /> LSE’s chief executive Xavier Rolet promoted it as a true “merger of equals”.<br /><br /> Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, is also considering a bid. <br /><br /> Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange are making a third attempt at getting together to take on US rivals encroaching on their turf.<br /><br /> Nearly 16 years after their first merger attempt, the London and Frankfurt exchanges are discussing an all-share deal giving Deutsche Boerse shareholders a 54.4 percent stak
