RTS Stock Exchange And St. Petersburg Stock Exchange Derivatives Market Turns 10

On April 21st, 1994, St Petersburg Stock Exchange started trading the first futures contract (ruble/dollar exchange rate) in the history of Russian securities market, creating the market now known as FORTS. St. Petersburg Stock Exchange and RTS Stock Exchange derivatives segment was the only one in Russia that survived the 1998 default. The uninterrupted functioning of FORTS during the turbulent times once again proved technologies, guarantee and risk management systems used by the exchanges to be reliable.

In September 2001 the RTS Stock Exchange and St. Petersburg Stock Exchange joined their efforts in creating a new, more reliable and liquid market FORTS. At present, trading and clearing on FORTS is performed by the RTS Stock Exchange, with St. Petersburg Stock Exchange providing technical support.

FORTS is a dynamic, quickly development segment. One thing is constant, though – the team of experts working to maintain and develop the market and their open-minded, client- oriented attitude.

For the last two years FORTS have been experiencing a quality and quantity shift in clients: the leading Russian investment companies started to work on FORTS, and the total number of clearing firms increased by 50%. Currently FORTS participants can trade 10 contracts on the most liquid Russian single stocks, an investment index and currency exchange rate.

Since September 2001 FORTS trading volumes increased 30 times and now reach 1,5 billion rubles on average. Total open interest grew 34 times, to 8 billion rubles. According to FOW Weekly, in terms of volume, FORTS is on the top-20 list of derivatives exchanges worldwide