Published Friday, 13 January 2012
The First and Deputy First Ministers, who were in Dublin on Friday, said the move represents an important endorsement of Northern Ireland.
CME Group, which essentially provides markets for dealing in financial products, still will not say how many posts it plans to create.
However speculation is that as many as 200 jobs could be on the cards.
Peter Robinson welcomed the deal, but did not hide his frustration at Thursday's announcement of 350 cuts at Ulster Bank.
The DUP leader said: "It shows something of the frustration that while we do have the good news of the prospective jobs coming into Northern Ireland from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange that you have this slippage at the other side.
"So you're running to stand still all of the time as we go through this very difficult period of recession."
Martin McGuinness, who also applauded the new jobs, couldn't resist a side swipe at the banks.
The Sinn Féin politician remarked: "The banks have a responsibility to ensure that people are being treated fairly, thus far this has not been the case.
"We are concerned about the future decisions that banking will take in that regard. What it all adds up to, is that we've made a massive effort with some considerable success over the course of recent times to attract foreign and direct investment."
The jobs at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group are very much on the lines of those created by the New York Stock Exchange in Belfast.
It employs around 400 in the centre of the city doing high level back office work.
Taken together, the arrival of both companies appears to represent a significant vote of confidence in Northern Ireland.