The value of equities traded on Middle Eastern trading venue Nasdaq Dubai reached US$71 million in February 2011, up 50% from US$47.1 million in January but down 46.77% year-on-year from US$133.4 million in February 2010.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has launched any-day expiry foreign exchange contracts on its derivatives market, allowing institutions to hedge their currency risk more accurately.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has reached an agreement with MillenniumIT, the technology company owned by the London Stock Exchange, to implement a new trading platform in the first half of 2012.
Data vendor and information services provider Thomson Reuters has introduced 500 new equity indices aimed at the Middle East markets, including indices from the equity markets of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.
A new multi-asset trading venue, the Bahrain Financial Exchange, is to begin trading on 7 February 2011, following an opening ceremony on the first day of the month.
The Istanbul Stock Exchange has introduced an automatic circuit breaker system, enabling fully automated suspension of trading on a stock-by-stock basis.
The national stock exchanges in Korea and the Philippines have announced plans to improve their market surveillance capabilities with the implementation of new monitoring systems.
Buy-side crossing network and agency brokerage Liquidnet has expanded its trading operations to include listed securities from Israel, becoming the first block trading venue to offer direct electronic access to a Middle Eastern market.