Bursa Malaysia Derivatives (BMD) won the ‘Best Technology Innovation by an Asian Exchange’ award and emerged runner up for the ‘Asian Derivatives Exchange of the Year’ award at the Futures & Options World Award ceremony held on 18 September 2012 in Singapore. Factors that contributed to the recognition included easy accessibility and global connectivity of the Malaysian derivatives market.
BMD had implemented several technological enhancements over the last two years which included migration to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s GLOBEX Trading Platform, hosting an Order Management System to move domestic futures brokers to a CME-certified broker front-end system and launching a new Derivatives Clearing System with multiple functionalities and capabilities with a SPAN risk-based margining system. As part of its market development drive, Options on FKLI was re-launched and a new product, Options on Crude Palm Oil futures contract (OCPO) was subsequently launched in July 2012.
Dato’ Tajuddin Atan, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia and Chairman of BMD said, “Derivatives is becoming well accepted as a tradeable and hedging product that create opportunities and we see huge potential in this market. The partnership with the CME Group has indeed assisted our growth story and this award recognition clearly validates the economic path that Malaysia has taken to globalise the derivatives market. The strong support from the Ministry of Finance, Securities Commission, Bank Negara Malaysia and Trading Participants have been key in transitioning Malaysia into a regional and global marketplace.”
The success of BMD is testament to the statement made by the Prime Minister of Malaysia in his speech at the 2009 World Capital Market Symposium that the collaboration between Bursa Malaysia and CME Group will enhance competitiveness and develop a robust derivatives market through co-operative cross link reach and opportunities.
The Chief Executive Officer of CME and Director of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, Mr Phupinder Gill has this to say "CME is committed to increase its footprint in Asia and Bursa Malaysia is an important partner. CME is very pleased with the way the partnership has evolved and grown despite challenging market environment".