SINGAPORE, Jan. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Singapore Exchange (SGX) today said U.S. investors can now directly trade its FTSE China A50 and MSCI Asia APEX 50 futures contracts from within the U.S.
On 27 January 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) certified that these contracts, which are based on the FTSE China A50 and MSCI Asia APEX 50 equity indices, may be offered and sold to individuals in the U.S.
The SGX-listed FTSE China A50 futures contract is the only offshore contract providing international investors with easy exposure to China's domestic A-share market. A total 3.1 million FTSE China A50 futures contracts were traded on SGX in 2011, six times that of the previous year. The MSCI Asia APEX 50 futures is a tradable proxy to the broader MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index, one of the most widely followed benchmark indices used by investors investing in Asia.
"With Asia's growth story standing out amid the ongoing economic slowdown in the West, US investors seeking opportunities in the East will benefit from the CFTC's decision. This approval will also make such listed derivatives more widely available at a time when investors are increasingly concerned about counterparty risks and the mitigation of such risks." said Mr Paul Davies, Chairman of the Futures Industry Association (FIA) Asia. FIA is a leading trade organization for the futures, options and OTC cleared derivatives markets.
"The CFTC's approval, together with our extended trading hours, will enable U.S. investors to easily access the world's fastest growing companies and economies. We look forward to providing international investors with more opportunities to access Asia and manage their risks," said Mr Michael Syn, Head of Derivatives at SGX.
SGX's derivatives market trades 17 hours daily, the longest opening hours for an Asian exchange.
About Singapore Exchange (SGX)
Singapore Exchange (SGX) is the Asian Gateway, connecting investors in search of Asian growth to corporate issuers in search of global capital. SGX represents the premier access point for managing Asian capital and investment exposure, and is Asia's most internationalised exchange with more than 40% of companies listed on SGX originating outside of Singapore. SGX offers its clients Asia's broadest span of equity index derivatives, uniquely centred on Asia's three largest economies – China, India and Japan.
In addition to offering a fully integrated value chain from trading and clearing, to settlement and depository services, SGX is also Asia's pioneering central clearing house. Headquartered in Asia's most globalised city, and centred within the AAA strength and stability of Singapore's island nation, SGX is a peerless Asian counterparty for the clearing of financial and commodity products.
For more information, please visit SGX website: http://www.sgx.com/">www.sgx.com