The Canadian Press

The operator of Canada’s largest stock markets, TMX Group Inc. (TSX:X), says it had a $26.8-million net loss in the fourth quarter as its operating results took a major hit from one of its acquisitions.

The quarter included a $77.3-million non-cash accounting item to reflect the impaired value of its goodwill assets at the Boston Options Exchange Group, also known as BOX.

The quarter’s profit for the company that owns the Toronto Stock Exchange, Montreal derivatives market, TSX Venture Exchange and other securities markets was also hit by the reduced value of TMX’s future tax assets and liabilities.

Revenue improved slightly to $153 million from $151.1 million.

The Toronto-based company’s net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 36 cents per share, compared with a profit of 65 cents a year earlier.

Adjusted net income to exclude the goodwill and tax-related items improved to $60.9 million from $49.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

TMX Group’s adjusted earnings remained 82 cents per share during the quarter, due to a decrease in the amount of stock outstanding.