NYSE Liffe U.S., the innovative U.S. futures exchange of NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced that it has surpassed $1 billion in notional value of Block Trades at Index Close or “BIC” trades. NYSE Liffe U.S. launched BIC trading in September 2011 as an innovative way to provide customers the ability to manage the tracking impact of executing large orders relative to the underlying index level by explicitly tying the transaction price to the closing level of the underlying index. Since that time, activity in BIC trades has steadily increased with $381 million transacted in mini MSCI EAFE Index futures and $263 million in mini MSCI Emerging Markets Index futures since March 1 alone.
“We are very pleased with the market’s response to this new trading tool. We created BIC trading to offer our customers the flexibility to unlock the greatest value and efficiency in our markets,” said Cliff Weber, Head of Strategy and Product Development, NYSE Liffe U.S. “In less than a year since completing the migration from CME of futures on MSCI Emerging Markets and MSCI EAFE indices, we have built a robust, vibrant market in these contracts with record volumes and open interest. This $1 billion milestone in BIC trading is just the latest indication of the value of innovation for our customers and the continued strength, liquidity and diverse participation found in our marketplace.”
With nearly 140,000 lots of mini MSCI Index futures currently established on NYSE Liffe U.S., open interest on the mini MSCI Emerging Markets contracts and mini MSCI EAFE contracts have increased over 100% to 82,000 and over 70% to 56,000, respectively since the migration from the CME on June 17, 2011. Average daily volume has also increased nearly 30% over the period to 14,000 contracts daily.
For more information on BIC trading in mini MSCI index futures contracts, please visit: http://www.nyseliffeus.com/equity-indices-block-trade-information and https://exchanges.nyx.com/en/marco-bianchi/customers-asked-we-delivered