16 SEPTEMBER 2000, Page 35

It's niX to iX

I MAY not have to bid for the Stock Exchange, either. There, the penny has dropped and the fiX called iX has been called off. The Exchange sees no need, after all, to tie itself to Deutsche BOrse's tail. I never saw the need, as you may have noticed. When iX was in favour we were given to understand that it was inevitable, and forward-looking, and an end to our parochial ideas of independence and an acceptance of our common European des- tiny. I can think of another bad deal now being sold on these lines, and I should be happy to see it called off.