These 15 contracts, added to the original 25, mean that from 2 April 2001 LIFFE will list a total of 40 contracts on stocks with a combined market capitalisation of ?4.7 trillion.
The Italian stock-based Universal Stock Futures to be introduced on Monday 19 March 2001:
- Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Italy; Borsa Italiana, Enel Spa, Italy, Borsa Italiana; Olivetti Spa, Italy, Borsa Italiana; Telecom Italia Mobile Spa, Italy, Borsa Italiana; Unicredito Italiano Spa, Italy, Borsa Italiana.
- Allianz AG , Germany, Deutsche Börse (Xetra); Axa SA, France, Euronext Paris; British Telecommunications plc , UK, London Stock Exchange; General Electric Company , USA , New York Stock Exchange; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, Netherlands, Euronext Amsterdam; Lloyds TSB plc, UK, London Stock Exchange; Marconi plc , UK, London Stock Exchange; Münchener Rücksversicherungs Gesellschaft AG (Munich Re.) , Germany Deutsche Börse (Xetra); Oracle Corporation , USA, NASDAQ Stock Market; Sun Microsystems Inc , USA, NASDAQ Stock Market
Nick Carew Hunt, LIFFE's Market Secretary said, "This extension of our Universal Stock Futures portfolio reflects the enthusiasm in the market for these revolutionary contracts. We have been encouraged by the scale of trading volume and growth in open interest across all the current 25 contracts and believe that the list of stocks will continue to grow steadily. Our members report a genuine enthusiasm for more and more contracts as awareness of Universal Stock Futures grows. LIFFE remains committed to meeting that demand."
From their launch on 29 January 2001 until 7 March 2001, a total of 133,392 Universal Stock Futures contracts have traded. This represents an underlying notional total of more than 51 million shares and a notional value of ?693m.
