Eurex trying to take over the US futures market, says CBOT

The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) has accused its European rival Eurex of trying to take over the US futures market using intimidating tactics.

In a strongly-worded statement, the CBOT’s chief executive, Bernie Dan, said the Wednesday filing of an antitrust action against the CBOT and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), claiming they are illegally trying to block the entrance of a new competitor to the market, was not a legitimate antitrust claim. The lawsuit was filed by Eurex’s US subsidiary, US Futures Exchange, which plans to launch all-electronic futures trading in February.

“Rather than a legitimate antitrust claim, the suit is just one more facet of an all-out effort by Eurex to take over the US futures markets and support those narrow interests that desire internalised trading and dealer-controlled pricing,” said the statement.

Dan added that Eurex, through the lawsuit and its accompanying public relations “onslaught”, is unfairly intimidating the CBOT’s clearing members in exercising their votes next week on a proposed restructuring of the Board of Trade Clearing Corporation (BOTCC), which is crucial to the European exchange's entry into the US.

“Eurex is the largest futures exchange in the world, having utilised aggressive tactics to take over previously thriving markets in London and elsewhere,” said Dan.

Eurex was not immediately available for comment.