HKEX To Launch Mini USD/CNH Futures

Mini USD/CNH Futures to launch in the first half of 2021, with contract size of US$20,000
Developed in response to market demand from smaller corporates and individuals, allowing for more precise risk management
Complements existing HKEX RMB currency products, such as USD/CNH Futures and USD/CNH Options

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is pleased to announce the launch of a cash-settled Mini USD/CNH (US dollar/Offshore Renminbi, or RMB) Futures contract -- a smaller-sized contract to complement the popular USD/CNH derivatives products, further diversifying HKEX’s suite of currency derivatives to support the risk-management needs of global investors.

“HKEX has been leading Hong Kong’s development as a global fixed-income and currency hub, and these currency derivatives products serve to underscore our commitment to further enhancing the breadth and attractiveness of our markets,” said HKEX Interim Chief Executive Calvin Tai.

“The new Mini USD/CNH Futures will expand HKEX’s Renminbi derivatives product suite, providing investors with an enhanced range of risk-management tools. Not only will this help them optimise their capital efficiency, but it will further support the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi,” added Mr Tai.

HKEX plans to launch the new Mini USD/CNH Futures in the first half of 2021, subject to market readiness.

The Mini USD/CNH Futures contract responds to demand from market participants, particularly medium-sized corporates and individuals, for cash-settled and smaller-sized contracts, helping investors to hedge the RMB currency risk of their positions in different assets, such as equities and commodities.

The contract size of Mini USD/CNH Futures is US$20,000, or one-fifth of the size of existing deliverable USD/CNH Futures offered by HKEX, allowing more precise hedging for market participants. The minimum investment will be lower than that of the existing deliverable USD/CNH Futures, as the required initial margin amount per contract will be reduced to around RMB2,000, subject to periodic adjustments.

HKEX launched the world’s first deliverable USD/CNH Futures contract in September 2012, and has seen strong growth in its turnover over the years, tracking the rising demand for RMB products. This contract is now one of the most actively-traded RMB futures contracts in the world, with open interest of 28,223 contracts (ie US$2.8 billion in notional amount) at the end of 2020, up 22 per cent from 2019.

HKEX has in recent years diversified its currency derivatives product offering with futures contracts on CNH currency pairs against the Japanese yen, Euro, and Australian dollar, USD-denominated CNH/USD Futures, USD/CNH Options, as well as futures on the Indian rupee against the USD and Offshore RMB.

Key features of Mini USD/CNH Futures

	Mini USD/CNH Futures
Price Quotation	RMB per USD
Contract Size	US$20,000
Contract Months	Spot, next 3 calendar months and next 6 calendar quarter months
Settlement Method	Cash-settled in RMB
Trading Hours	8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (T Session) 5:15 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. (T+1 Session)
Last Trading Day (“LTD”)	Two Hong Kong Business Days prior to the third Wednesday of the Contract Month
LTD Trading Hours	8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Final Settlement Price	USD/CNY(HK) Spot Rate published by the Hong Kong Treasury Markets Association (“TMA”) at or around 11:30 a.m. on the LTD
Final Settlement Day	The first Hong Kong Business Day after the LTD
Position Limits	Position delta for USD/CNH Futures, Mini USD/CNH Futures, CNH/USD Futures and USD/CNH Options combined of 8,000 long or short in all Contract Months combined
Large Open Position	2,500 open contracts, in any one Contract Month
Trading Fee (per contract per side)	RMB1.60
Settlement Fee (per contract per side)	RMB1.60
Commission Levy	Not applicable

	Mini USD/CNH Futures

Additional information of the Mini USD/CNH Futures is available in a circular issued today.