Nasdaq OMX, the transatlantic exchange group, has abandoned plans to try to break into the US equities clearing business, dealing a blow to its ambitions to expand beyond securities trading into the more lucrative post-trade business.

In October last year, the group said that as a result of its acquisition of the Boston Stock Exchange, it had also acquired the Boston bourse’s clearing house, which it would rename Nasdaq Clearing Corporation and pit against the monopoly provider of US equities clearing, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC).