Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced that the first trade in Custom Basket Futures has been made by University of Cambridge Investment Management Limited with a notional value of €80 million.
University of Cambridge Investment Management Limited (“UCIM”) is the investment company that manages the Cambridge University Endowment Fund, with a mission to provide world-class, sustainable investment performance. UCIM is the first organization to trade Nasdaq Custom Basket Futures – a product that allows investors to create a custom-made equity basket that is specified by return type, currency, and chosen from a pool of equities, in this case to exclude conventional energy, supporting a core part of UCIM’s sustainable investment strategy.
“Nasdaq Custom Basket Futures enhance UCIM's ability to further reduce exposure to conventional energy within the passive component of the endowment’s public equity portfolio, supporting progress towards our ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2038,” said Sarah Wood, Associate Director, Marketable Assets, UCIM. “It has been a pleasure to work with the Nasdaq team as it developed an innovative, efficient solution for UCIM and its stakeholders at the University of Cambridge.”
The Custom Basket offering was first launched with Custom Basket Forwards. In March 2025 the offering was expanded to include Futures. The solution reflects Nasdaq commitment to driving innovation and increasing accessibility in the capital markets by offering a more streamlined and transparent way to manage bespoke equity exposures. It enables clients to use standardized contracts traded on a regulated market — with central counterparty clearing — instead of relying on over-the-counter equity swaps. Since launch, the equity universe has grown from European equities to also include U.S. equities, now covering over 2,200 stocks across 16 countries.
“We are thrilled to announce the first trade for Nasdaq Custom Basket Futures in partnership with UCIM — an important milestone in our product evolution,” said Julian Butterworth, Head of Sales, European Market Services, Nasdaq. “This offering is a strong example of how we are delivering innovative tools that empower investors to tailor their exposures while benefiting from the transparency and security of regulated markets.”
More information on Custom Basket Futures can be found at Nasdaq Custom Basket Futures.
