Deutsche Börse has beaten expectations with a 70% rise in net profits in a second consecutive record quarter. Clearstream, which analysts see as the biggest hurdle to the exchange's ambition of a merger with rival Euronext, retained its importance as the exchange's strongest division.

Net income for the three months to June 30 rose to €185.8m ($237.9m) from €109.6m in the same period last year. The increase came on the back of rising sales revenues and falling costs.