European derivatives exchange Eurex, a joint venture between Deutsche Börse and SIX Swiss Exchange, has launched an incentive programme to encourage more trading from brokers in central and eastern European countries. The programme is aimed at traders who have not been active on Eurex and want to expand their proprietary trading in the exchange’s products.
The initiative, an extension of the exchange’s Trader Development Program that was introduced in July 2007, will allow traders in central and Eastern Europe to trade up to 500,000 contracts per location – with a maximum of five locations per member – in a 12-month period without incurring any trading or clearing fees. If members reach the 500,000 threshold in the first 12 months, they will be able to trade 1.5 billion contracts free of charge in the second year.
In addition to Eurex derivatives contracts, the programme has also been expanded to include products Eurex offers in collaboration with the European Energy Exchange, such as futures and options on emission rights.
Eurex will accept applications to the programme until 31 December 2009, and once signed up, members will be able to take advantage of the promotion until the end of 2011.
The original two-year Trader Development Program was launched to attract more traders from emerging markets and support existing customers looking to expand their geographic reach. The countries targeted in the original scheme were Croatia, Russia, Serbia and Turkey in Europe; Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela in Central and South America; China, India, Malaysia and New Zealand in Asia; and South Africa in Africa.