TMX Group that owns Toronto Stock Exchange swung to a fourth-quarter loss on a robust goodwill-impairment charge linked with Boston Options Exchange Group. Income-tax charges that are related to tax changes in its home province of Ontario are also responsible.

The company lost $26.8 million, or 36 cents a share, in the fourth quarter that sharply down from a profit of $49 million, or 65 cents, in the same period of the last year, the company mentioned on Wednesday. The full-year profit fell down from 42 per cent to $104.7 million, compared with $182 million in 2008. Profit was $556.3 million, up from $532.6 million.

"On balance we are pleased with our performance in 2009. We accomplished all of this against a backdrop of one of the toughest years the world economy has seen in a long time", said Thomas Kloet, Chief Executive Officer.

64 cents shares were gained by TMX on Wednesday close at $29.15 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. TMX has planned several initiatives including the continued implementation of technology.