Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) and NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) have extended the deadline for completion of their planned merger to March 31 next year as they seek to convince European regulators to back the $9 billion deal. The exchanges, which agreed the merger on February 14, told the Securities and Exchange Commission last week they were exercising their right to extend the initial termination deadline of December31 2011. The extension came after months of frantic lobbying by the merger partners as they try to convince European anti-trust authorities in Brussels to approve the combination -- the last hurdle to the deal. ... (full story)