Hong Kong’s HKEX Aims to Launch USD/CNH Options Next Month

The operator of Hong Kong’s Stock Exchange Stock Exchange A stock exchange, also known as a securities exchange or bourse represents is a facility where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities.This includes shares of stock, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or other financial instruments. By extension, stock exchanges can also provide facilities for the issue and redemption of such securities and instruments and capital events including the payment of income and dividendsStock exchanges have developed into a permanent fixture in the fin A stock exchange, also known as a securities exchange or bourse represents is a facility where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities.This includes shares of stock, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or other financial instruments. By extension, stock exchanges can also provide facilities for the issue and redemption of such securities and instruments and capital events including the payment of income and dividendsStock exchanges have developed into a permanent fixture in the fin Read this Term, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), is preparing to introduce renminbi currency options through a USD/CNH contract on 20 March 2017, amid growing demand to hedge currency risk arising from a more volatile yuan.

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The step effectively makes HKEX the third international Clearing House Clearing House A clearing house is defined as an intermediary between two parties, a buyer and seller, which helps facilitate the overall process from trade inception to settlement. Clearing houses streamline the exchange of payments, securities, or derivatives transactions.The clearing house is situated between two clearing firms who also helps reduce the risk of either member firm failing to honor their respective trade settlement obligations.Buyers and sellers enter into legally binding agreements for the e A clearing house is defined as an intermediary between two parties, a buyer and seller, which helps facilitate the overall process from trade inception to settlement. Clearing houses streamline the exchange of payments, securities, or derivatives transactions.The clearing house is situated between two clearing firms who also helps reduce the risk of either member firm failing to honor their respective trade settlement obligations.Buyers and sellers enter into legally binding agreements for the e Read this Term to provide exchange-traded options on the US dollar/offshore RMB pair, which reinforces Hong Kong’s overall position as the premier offshore renminbi centre.

The eight contract months on the launch day will comprise April, May, June, July, September and December 2017, and March and June 2018, the bourse said.

The product will be based on offshore US dollar-yuan rates cleared in Hong Kong and would launch amid growing demand for tools to hedge currency risks that arise from a more volatile yuan. In addition, RMB currency options are part of HKEX’s efforts to provide a full range of RMB-related derivatives, which now includes USD/CNH futures.

The Hong Kong bourse said that the new product will allow investors to employ trading and hedging strategies for various market conditions. It would also limit counterparty risk, with HKEX acting as the central clearing counterparty. In addition, the operator of the Hong Kong’s stock and futures markets will facilitate block trades and tenor coverage up to 16 months.

The new contract is a follow-up to forex products launched by the HKEX in recent months including USD/CNH futures and other RMB currency futures. The move was aimed at expanding the Hong Kong bourse futures market as the country has signaled its ambition to become an offshore yuan trading canter.