Basis Of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements consist of CME Group Inc. (CME Group) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the company), including Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME), the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. (CBOT), New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) and their respective subsidiaries (collectively, the exchange).

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by CME Group without audit. Certain notes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position of the company at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of results for any subsequent period.

In June 2012, the company contributed certain Dow Jones Index assets and liabilities (DJI asset group) owned by CME Group Index Services LLC (Index Services) to a new business venture with The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. (McGraw). Index Services was initially formed in March 2010 and Dow Jones & Company (Dow Jones) retains a 10% non-controlling interest in Index Services. As part of the agreement, the company also sold Credit Market Analysis Ltd. (CMA) to McGraw. Assets and liabilities contributed or sold as part of this transaction are excluded from the company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes beginning June 30, 2012.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in CME Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 27, 2012.