Spain's MEFF Becomes Sixth Globex® Alliance Partner

Spain's MEFF (The Spanish Futures and Options Exchange) today officially became the sixth international partner to join the GLOBEX® Alliance linking financial exchanges across the globe. MEFF Chairman Josep M. Basañez signed the agreement today enlarging the global trading link providing access to many of the world's most actively traded financial futures products.

The signature ceremony was held at the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Catalan Government. The ceremony was presided by the Minister of Economy and Finances of the Catalan Government, Honorable Artur Mas, who welcomed the signatories of the Agreement, emphasizing the importance and significance of MEFF´s joining the Alliance for the Spanish financial markets. At the end of the ceremony, the Chairmen of the Alliance partner exchanges were welcomed by the President of the Catalan Government, the Right Honorable Jordi Pujol.

MEFF joins partners spanning the world's three major time zones and four continents, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), ParisBourseSBFSA, the Singapore Exchange (SGX), the Bolsa Mercadorias & Futuros of Brazil (BM&F) and the Montreal Exchange.

"I am very pleased that MEFF will be able to offer very soon to the Spanish investors and the whole financial community, access to the world´s most active derivatives markets and their most widely traded products. In turn, I am sure that the members of our GLOBEX Alliance partners will benefit from the access they are gaining to our Spanish and European based products," said Basañez, at the signing of the agreement

"The partners of the GLOBEX Alliance are delighted to welcome MEFF into our global partnership," CME Chairman Scott Gordon said. "The addition of MEFF enables the Alliance to further expand on the broad range of products which our customers and members will be able to access and trade."

Under the GLOBEX Alliance, members of each exchange will benefit from trading privileges and direct access to the electronically traded products of all of the Alliance markets through one single technical access point, along with cross-margining of positions in order to reduce the capital requirements of their customers and members. The Alliance members are also establishing a harmonized set of electronic trading rules and policies.

MEFF trades futures and options on interest rates and stock indexes and options on equities. The CME trades futures and options on interest rates, stock indexes, foreign currencies and agricultural commodities. BM&F trades futures and options on interest rates, exchange rates, stock indexes and agricultural commodities. ParisBourseSBFSA trades futures and options on interest rates, commodities and stock indexes and options on equities. SGX-DT trades futures and options on interest rates, stock indexes and energy. The Montreal Exchange trades futures and options on interest rates and stock indexes and options on equities.