"The GLOBEX Learning Center and Visitors Center ensures that CME will remain at the forefront of innovation, set the standards, and become a destination point for anyone who wants to study financial markets," said Terrence A. Duffy, CME Chairman.
"Chicago is where the world comes to manage risk," said Craig S. Donohue, CME Chief Executive Officer. "From a business standpoint, our creation of the GLOBEX Learning Center and new Visitors Center not only serves to boost Chicago's stature as a world financial center but also demonstrates CME's commitment to this city."
About the GLOBEX Learning Center
The GLOBEX Learning Center (GLC) is designed to help current open outcry traders make the transition to electronic trading through a comprehensive program that includes simulated trading stations, education, training and support. CME has contracted with numerous independent software vendors (ISVs) to provide the GLC with the latest front-end trading software for 50 trading stations in both the GLC and in its classrooms. CME has also contracted with news and data quote vendors to provide real time information. The GLC is also designed to attract future market participants through partnering with local universities in topic-related programming. CME and Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Stuart Graduate School of Business recently began offering two 72-hour certificate programs: Electronic Trading, and Discovering New Markets. Instructors are from both IIT Stuart and CME, and these programs will result in joint certificates offered by both CME and IIT Stuart. These programs are available to the general public.
"The long-standing relationship between CME and IIT Stuart is one of the most important business and academic alliances in financial markets education," said Timothy C. Preheim, Dean of IIT Stuart. "We are very proud to contribute to CME's continuing efforts to develop a leading education platform for its members."
CME also offers a certificate program, Futures and Options, through DePaul University Department of Finance.
About the CME Visitors Center
Recognizing that Wacker Drive has become a preeminent place for business in Chicago, CME has remodeled and expanded its entryway, including an addition of a 40' x 5' electronic LCD board that displays current prices and overall volume of our benchmark products. The board also indicates trading volume and financial market activity from around the world - and it is clearly visible to drivers and pedestrians who pass by.
The most significant addition, however, is CME's new Visitors Center that is designed to provide a hands-on, multi-media approach to inform CME's 100,000 annual visitors and the general public about the importance of financial futures to the world economy and how Chicago's financial markets affect their daily lives. The Visitors Center includes kiosks with videos and interactive programs that mimic real world events that affect financial and commodity markets. We have also included a multi-media timeline that details CME's history of innovation, including a display of the evolution of technology used in the financial markets, much of which was pioneered by CME and which became standard for use among financial markets throughout the world.
Beginning March 9 , CME's Visitors Center (including its gift shop) will be open to the public Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The GLC will begin offering a series of classes and seminars over the next several weeks. For more information, contact CME's Education Department at 312-930-6937 or 1-800-331-3332.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (www.cme.com) is the largest futures exchange in the United States. As an international marketplace, CME brings together buyers and sellers on its trading floors and GLOBEX® electronic trading platform. CME offers futures and options on futures primarily in four product areas: interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities. The exchange moved about $1.4 billion per day in settlement payments in 2003 and managed $39.5 billion in collateral as of Jan. 31, 2004. CME is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CME), which is part of the Russell 1000® Index. Chicago Mercantile Exchange, CME and GLOBEX are registered trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Further information about CME and its products is available on the CME Web site at www.cme.com.
