S&P Global (SPGI) announced on November 30 that it would be acquiring IHS Markit (INFO) for $44 billion.The deal is one of the two largest mergers of 2020 and it has put the market data services industry in the spotlight. This particular merger was of major interest to me as I have S&P Global, MSCI (MSCI) and Factset Research (FDS) in my 20/2o Model Portfolio.

FactSet shares rose during pre-market trading, following news of its fiscal third-quarter earnings beat. The financial data services company reported earnings of $2.62 per share, which surpassed analysts’ estimates of $2.36 per share.The figure also reflects a +20.2% increase from the same quarter in the prior year.  Revenue of $364.5 million also came in higher compared to the Street expectations of $359.25 million. According to CEO Phil Snow,  FactSet’s performance reveals resilience of the company’s long-term strategy in the face of sector and industry headwinds.

The parent company of Standard & Poor’s, S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), is at a critical juncture on its chart and the company is getting ready to report earnings later this week.This rally has brought the stock back up to the $195 level and the company will report fourth quarter earnings results on Thursday, February 7. S&P Global’s fundamentals have been strong over the last few years.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc., the owner of some of the largest futures markets and the New York Stock Exchange, wants to build a global platform for Bitcoin trading. Named Bakkt, Intercontinental Exchange Inc.’s latest venture will  aim to provide  “an open and regulated, global ecosystem for digital assets”, according to its statement on Friday.The venture plans to start offering one-day futures contract in November, which will give bitcoins (versus cash) to contract holders upon the contract’s expiration.  The company will team up with Starbucks and Microsoft, in addition to several venture capital/investment firms, for setting up this platform.