GFI Group, the interdealer derivatives broker, is hoping to raise almost $70m (€52m) from its flotation on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and will use the windfall to pay off debt and help fund acquisitions.

On Tuesday, the New York-based broker filed a document to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the US regulator, saying it would sell about 5.7 million shares in an initial public offering, which will be run by Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.