News Centre

CME Group Announces Trading Volume Record In Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures

Date 24/01/2012

CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced a record in daily trading volume for its benchmark Henry Hub Natural Gas futures contract. These contracts are listed by and subject to the rules of NYMEX.

Speech By Mervyn King, Governor Of The Bank Of England At The Grand Hotel In Brighton

Date 24/01/2012

My Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Ladies and Gentlemen 

As we head into a challenging year for the world economy, we have seen more positive sentiment in financial markets, and, at home, a fall in inflation.  But none of this implies that 2012 will be an easy year.  We begin it with the level of output more than 10% below a continuation of its pre-crisis trend, and the unemployment rate at a 15-year high.  These are huge changes in our economic fortunes.  Tonight I want to talk to you about what is happening to our economy, what it means for the years ahead, and how the Bank of England is responding. 

FIA Establishes Task Force To Respond To MF Global

Date 24/01/2012

The Futures Industry Association announced today that it has established a special committee to address issues related to the bankruptcy of MF Global. The Futures Market Financial Integrity Task Force will develop and recommend specific measures that can be implemented in the near term through both industry best practice and regulatory change. In addition to these measures, the FIA intends to work with end-users and other market participants to examine the adequacy of current customer funds protection models in response to concerns raised by the MF Global bankruptcy.

IMF Marks Down Global Growth Forecast, Sees Risk On Rise

Date 24/01/2012

• IMF says global recovery expected to stall, risks to intensify
• Euro area expected to fall into mild recession, rest of world to slow
• Comprehensive package needed to restore financial stability
• Countries should avoid too rapid tightening of fiscal policy

Derivatives: Council's Position Updated Ahead Of Talks With European Parliament

Date 24/01/2012

The Council today adjusted its position in negotiations with the European Parliament on a draft regulation aimed at increasing transparency on all derivatives and reducing risk in the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market.  

Industry Participants Have Developed Common Standards That Will Restore Post-Trade Transparency In The European Equity Markets

Date 24/01/2012

Industry participants have developed common standards that will restore post-trade transparency in the European equity markets.

The key benefits of the MMT are:

• To enable investors to accurately monitor market events by standardising how these events are identified across a fragmented market for the first time since the introduction of MiFID and it offers a practical solution ahead of MiFID II.
• Swift adoption of standardised trade data through a comprehensive translation facilitated by market data vendors on behalf of their users.
• MMT delivers on the industry’s commitment to address the pressing need to deliver a substantial action for an efficient and, comprehensive tape of record for users of the EU Single Market.

Joaquín Almunia Vice President Of The European Commission Responsible For Competition Policy Banking Sector And State Aid Economist Conferences: “The Third Future Of Banking Summit” Paris, 24 January 2012

Date 24/01/2012

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to share with you my views on the outlook for the financial sector.

BATS Exchange Launches First Primary Listing With iShares ETF Today - New iShares ETFs Begin Trading On BATS Exchange This Week

Date 24/01/2012

BATS Global Markets (BATS), a global operator of stock and options markets, today announced the iShares MSCI Norway Capped Investable Market Index Fund (BATS: ENOR) will begin trading today on BATS Exchange, the first of nine new exchange traded funds (ETFs) sponsored by BlackRock, Inc.’s (NYSE: BLK) iShares^® ETF business scheduled to commence trading on the Exchange beginning this week.

Deutsche Börse: Six New Lyxor Equity Index ETFs Launched On Xetra - Lyxor ETF Covers Thailand SET 50 Index

Date 24/01/2012

Deutsche Börse continues to expand its XTF segment for exchange-traded index funds. Six new Lyxor equity index ETFs have been tradable in the XTF segment since Tuesday.

City Of London’s Long Term Prosperity Dependent On Maintaining A Multicultural Workforce - L3F Explores The Financial Services Industry To 2050 – Surprises Include The Size, Location And Role Of Financial Services

Date 24/01/2012

The L3F (Long Finance Forum of Futurists) today released details of its “In Safe Hands? The Future of Financial Services” report. The report is being published by Long Finance as part of the Financial Centre Futures programme sponsored by Qatar Financial Centre Authority. This report is the result of a scenario planning exercise conducted by internationally recognised futurists and key figures from the global financial services industry. It plots a series of possible future scenarios for the global financial services market, and considers the future of financial services over the next 40 years. It also identifies a number of surprises which come out of the analysis, ranging from questions on the size, location and role of financial services, a challenge for future risk assessment of insurance, to a change in the nature of assets which will be valued.