Eurex will extend its strategically important equity index derivatives segment with the launch of micro contracts on three European benchmarks. The new Micro-DAX, Micro-EURO STOXX 50 and Micro-SMI futures will start trading on 19 April. Globally, investors’ demand for smaller sized futures has increased significantly. With the new micro contracts, Deutsche Börse's derivatives arm responds to this trend, granting smaller and medium sized investors access to transparent, price efficient and liquid markets.
Due to the contract value of EUR 1 or CHF 1 per index point, the new micro contracts have a value equivalent to the current index level, ranging between EUR 3,500 to EUR 14,500. In comparison, existing futures contracts have a contract value of multiple times of the index level or between EUR 35,000 and 360,000.
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With smaller contract sizes investors require lower initial capital to participate in trading and clearing these liquid futures markets. This allows for more flexible and targeted trading and hedging strategies.
Randolf Roth, Member of the Eurex Executive Board: “The new contracts are the right size for the needs of investors with smaller investment accounts like private wealth managers or individual traders. But this is only part of it. We see also demand from institutional and professional investors who are seeking to scale their equity index exposure and to precisely hedge existing equity portfolio positions.”
The contract specifications of the new contracts are otherwise in line with the existing contract specifications for DAX, Euro STOXX 50 and SMI.
Source: Eurex