Following the 33% growth this year in French Equity Options , the new market makers will provide a high quality market for the growing number of funds, professionals and retail traders who are entering the market.
The new role will provide:
· Continuous display of prices for all series, covering all maturities listed up to 1 year out
· Increased competitiveness, providing narrower, more stable, bid-ask spreads
· Attractive prices and easier adjustment of positions
Four market makers with international reach will act as Primary Liquidity Providers:
· Hardcastle Trading AG
· Optiver V.O.F
· Saen Options
· Wolverine Trading UK Ltd
This is one of a series of initiatives to develop the French options market which includes the recently announced “Futures and Options Partners” program where Barclays, B*Capital and Bourse Direct will provide access to French retail users.
The introduction of the new role is part of our strategy to implement the highly successful market model currently running in Amsterdam and Brussels where bid-ask spreads are on permanent display for all traded option series. Since its introduction on these markets, there has been significant growth in volumes.
“With the support of major market makers and retail and institutional brokers, the French options market has all it takes to attract further individual investors and institutional business and continue its encouraging growth," notes Philippe Hajali, Equity and Index Derivatives Director, Euronext.liffe.
