When people think about "the Curb" these days, it's something of an afterthought. The great exchange derby has left the historic American Stock Exchange out in the cold---except in options and perhaps ETFs. Morgan Stanley has been shopping the AMEX for the last year. For the last three months or so, talks between the AMEX and the NYSE have been underway, according to media reports. John Thain, ex-CEO of the NYSE, was apparently hot to buy the exchange after he missed on the Philly exchange. Duncan Niederauer is still in pursuit, however, according to the New York Post. Breaking into the options mart might not be a great move for the NYSE: The AMEX has been losing ground against the competition, mainly more electronically-oriented players. The NYSE would somehow have to find a way to turn the AMEX around.  

For more:
- here's the New York Post article