The two main rivals in the US single-stock trading market, OneChicago and Nasdaq Liffe Markets (NQLX), will begin trading Friday following regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

OneChicago, the electronic futures exchange joint venture between the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), had tried to steal a march on NQLX, the joint venture electronic derivatives exchange of Nasdaq and the UK's Liffe, by announcing an October 25 launch. However, technical problems forced it to delay the start of trading. NQLX alleged OneChicago had jumped the gun by announcing a launch date before it had received regulatory approval.