Clearing the way for competition

Until recently, NOS was the only player offering clearing for freight derivatives. But with the arrival of new players, competition is set to intensify. Oliver Holtaway reports

Clearing has become a hot issue in the freight derivatives market, with several clearers entering the market recently in response to increased demand for credit risk mitigation.

"We are seeing increased interest in clearing," says Duncan Dunn of ship-brokers SSY Futures, "both from the existing over the counter (OTC) traders, who are enthusiastic about clearing because it simplifies their positions, and from new players."

These new players are a mixture of natural hedgers and institutional