China to launch series of volatility indexes by year-end

Volatility benchmarks set to be launched following the start of equity options in China later in 2014, with participants giving mixed views on the benchmarks' potential to succeed

China intends to follow the start of onshore equity option trading later this year with the launch of three volatility indexes, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The move will mean there are seven countries with domestic benchmarks of this type in Asia-Pacific.

Earlier this year India became the sixth Asia-Pacific state to launch domestic volatility indexes; the others are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The first Chinese addition to this list will be the China