Mondo Visione Worldwide Financial Markets Intelligence

FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index:

Hong Kong Futures Exchange: Trading Discontinued In MSCI China Free Index Futures

Date 26/03/2004

Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), is discontinuing trading in its MSCI China Free Index Futures due to low market demand.

No new contract months will be introduced for trading; the trading of existing futures contract months without open interest will be discontinued with immediate effect; and existing futures contract months with open interest will be available for trading until expiration.

As there are no existing contracts with open interest, there will be no further trading in MSCI China Free Index Futures.

"The decision to discontinue trading in these futures was based on the reviews we conduct frequently to ensure our products are meeting the needs and demands of the market, in a cost efficient manner," said an HKEx spokesman.