Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is today pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Hong Kong Futures Exchange Limited, has signed a major licensing agreement with MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of mission critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, to license a suite of MSCI indexes in Asia and Emerging Markets for the introduction of futures and options contracts in Hong Kong.

The introduction of the 37 futures and options contracts remain subject to regulatory approvals and market conditions. HKEX will inform the market of the launch dates of the contracts and provide detailed product specifications once the launch dates have been confirmed.

This agreement will notably expand HKEX’s existing relationship with MSCI, following the successful launch of MSCI Asia Ex-Japan Index futures, and last year’s joint announcement on the planned launch of MSCI China A Index futures.  This agreement further anchors HKEX and MSCI’s commitment to the global trading community and to their long-term product development and innovation programme in the region.

Charles Li, Chief Executive, HKEX said: “This is very exciting news indeed for Hong Kong and HKEX.  As the global markets leader in the Asian timezone, and reflecting our unique role connecting markets and investors across the world, we are very pleased to today be announcing this major agreement with MSCI.  Bringing enhanced liquidity to our markets, this builds on our stated strategy and our 2019 commitment to launch MSCI China A index futures in Hong Kong.  It comes at a time when Hong Kong’s derivatives market is going from strength to strength and represents another significant development in continuing to build the breadth, depth and attractiveness of Hong Kong’s vibrant financial markets.”

Henry Fernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at MSCI, added: “MSCI’s mission as a provider of tools, services and insights for the global investment industry is to help investors around the world better understand and navigate investment opportunities and risks.  As we continue to see increasing demand from global investors in enhancing their risk management capabilities, we are pleased to license HKEX to use our indexes for this expansive suite of new trading and risk management tools for global investors.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Expected list of initial contracts (subject to regulatory approvals and market conditions)

Futures Contracts:

1. MSCI Australia Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
2. MSCI China Free (USD) Index Futures
3. MSCI China Free Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
4. MSCI Emerging Markets (USD) Index Futures
5. MSCI Emerging Markets Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
6. MSCI EM ex China Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
7. MSCI EM ex Korea Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
8. MSCI EM Asia Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
9. MSCI EM Asia ex China Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
10. MSCI EM Asia ex Korea Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
11. MSCI EM EMEA Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
12. MSCI EM LatAm Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
13. MSCI Hong Kong Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
14. MSCI India (USD) Index Futures
15. MSCI India Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
16. MSCI Indonesia Index (USD) Futures
17. MSCI Indonesia Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
18. MSCI Japan (JPY) Index Futures
19. MSCI Japan Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
20. MSCI Japan Net Total Return (JPY) Index Futures
21. MSCI Malaysia (USD) Index Futures
22. MSCI Malaysia Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
23. MSCI New Zealand Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
24. MSCI Pacific Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
25. MSCI Pacific ex Japan Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
26. MSCI Philippines (USD) Index Futures
27. MSCI Philippines Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
28. MSCI Singapore Free (SGD) Index Futures
29. MSCI Singapore Free Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
30. MSCI Singapore Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
31. MSCI Taiwan (USD) Index Futures
32. MSCI Taiwan Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
33. MSCI Thailand (USD) Index Futures
34. MSCI Thailand Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures
35. MSCI Vietnam (USD) Index Futures
36. MSCI Vietnam Net Total Return (USD) Index Futures

Options Contract:

      37.   MSCI Taiwan (USD) Index Options

About HKEX

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is one of the world’s major exchange groups, and operates a range of equity, commodity, fixed income and currency markets.  HKEX is the world’s leading IPO market and as Hong Kong’s only securities and derivatives exchange and sole operator of its clearing houses, it is uniquely placed to offer regional and international investors access to Asia’s most vibrant markets.

HKEX is also the global leader in metals trading, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, The London Metal Exchange (LME) and LME Clear Limited.  This commodity franchise was further enhanced with the launch of Qianhai Mercantile Exchange (QME), in China, in 2018.

HKEX launched the pioneering Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme in 2014, further expanded with the launch of Shenzhen Connect in 2016, and the launch of Bond Connect in 2017.

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