Introduction
China Financial Futures Exchange, or CFFEX, is an open, international, and diversified exchange for financial futures products in China. It focuses on the development and trading of international financial products in the China market. Futures trading has become an important tools for hedging risky market activities in the era of global economic integration. CFFEX provides market participants a place to trade, a vehicle to hedge risk, and an improved method to manage portfolio trade-offs. In recent years, CFFEX has seen rapid growth and has become a leader among global exchanges in terms of the number of contracts traded, economic value of contracts, and the size and scope of its trading services.
History
CFFEX was established in 2006, under the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. In 2010, CFFEX launched trading in four products—financial futures on the CSI 300 Index, the Shanghai Composite Index, interest rate futures, and treasury futures. Since then, CFFEX has developed a varied range of financial products, including stock index futures, stock index options, interest rate futures, currency futures and options contracts, as well as short-term and mid-term treasury futures. As of June 30, 2017, CFFEX had over 4 million contracts outstanding across its various products.
Services and Products
CFFEX provides a wide range of financial derivatives and services to meet the needs of its customers. These include stock index futures and options, interest rate futures and options, currency futures, mid-term and short-term treasury futures, and other customized products and services. CFFEX offers a number of resources and tools for traders, such as a real-time market data ticker and customizable charting tools. It also provides a wide range of educational materials, news updates and analysis.
Trading Platforms
CFFEX employs two distinct trading platforms for its derivatives. The primary platform is a proprietary platform called the China Financial Futures Trading System, or CFTS. CFTS is a powerful, comprehensive platform with a full suite of trading tools, including order management, short-selling, and advanced research functions. The secondary platform is the China Mercantile Futures Modern Trading System, or CMFTS, which provides quick, easy-to-use trading functions.
Clearing and Settlement
CFFEX handles the clearing and settlement of its derivatives through the China Financial Futures Clearing Co., Ltd (CFFC), the designated central counterparty of CFFEX. CFFC provides a clearinghouse that streamlines the settlement process. CFFC guarantees the performance of derivative trades and functions as a risk-manager, eliminating the need for counterparties to directly interact with each other.
Conclusion
CFFEX is a successful and rapidly growing exchange for financial futures products in China. It offers a wide range of products, tools and services to meet the needs of its customers. Moreover, its powerful trading platforms, robust clearing and settlement process, and oversight from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, make it a desirable place to trade.