Eurex cuts costs in bid to stimulate Finnish options trading

Frankfurt-based futures and options exchange Eurex intends to reduce transaction fees on Finnish equity options in a bid to boost trading volumes. Working with Finnish Exchange Hex Integrated Markets, the average trading cost would be reduced by more than 50%, said Eurex.

The new fees, which come into effect on January 2, will be €0.50 for trading and clearing a contract, and €0.10 for market makers.

Officials at the exchanges said the goal was to win business from the over-the-counter market. However, Rudolf Ferscha, chief executive at Eurex, added that “the benefits of mutually stimulating the OTC and exchange markets will lead to further growth industry-wide, and thus also to further growth at Eurex”.

Eurex and Hex have traded Finnish equity options jointly since September 1999. Currently, the Nokia equity option is the most liquid Finnish equity option worldwide, with an estimated 12 million traded this year, 70% of those on Eurex.