CME Group To Launch Euro Denominated E-mini S&P 500 Futures 04/09/08 CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, announced today at the Burgenstock Derivatives conference that it will launch its popular E-mini S&P 500(R) futures denominated in euros beginning October 27. The contract will enable market participants to gain access to the widely watched U.S. large cap stock index combined with the exposure to the euro currency in a single trading vehicle. "The denomination of the contract multiplier in euros increases the relevance of our U.S. equity index products to our European customer base," said Robert Ray, Managing Director, CME Group International Sales, Equity and Commodity Products. "Customers throughout Europe want efficient exposure to U.S. equity markets and this product facilitates that as well as allows for new spreading opportunities between CME Group products and the listed derivatives traded in other markets." "The Euro E-mini S&P 500 further extends the scope of our equity index product suite," said Scot Warren, Managing Director, CME Group Equity Products. "Building on the success of the E-mini S&P 500, which trades more than 2.2 million contracts per day, we believe our customers will benefit from the expanded opportunities the euro-denominated S&P 500 futures will provide." The Euro E-mini S&P 500 will be offered exclusively on CME Globex(R), the exchange's electronic trading platform. The value of the contract will be euro 50 times the S&P 500 Stock Index. Trading hours will run from Sunday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. the following day and then 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please go to www.cmegroup.com/eurosp500.
Why not? Will be interesting to see if it gets any volume. There's been some interesting contracts by the CME but few ever get any serious volume.
Sounds like a stupid concept. Matters not in which currency the vehicle is denominated... it can be converted to another, if desired, in a heartbeat.