OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2010. February 12, 2010 saw record trading activity in the Brent futures contract, with market participants making a record number of trades (2,210 trades) for a record value of RUB2,212,879,479 (or USD73.5 million), represented by 100,527 contracts.

The previous record was set on February 5, 2010 when the trading volume in this instrument reached RUB1,937,502,569 (or USD65 million) or 89,876 contracts.

FORTS, the derivatives market of RTS, is the leading trading venue for futures and options in Russia. Trading on FORTS started in September 2001. By the results of the first nine months of 2009 FORTS entered the Top-10 global derivatives exchanges as ranked by the Futures Industry Association. At present FORTS has the widest range of instruments in Russia. These are 46 contracts (33 futures and 13 options) on RTS Index, shares of Russian companies, bonds, short term interest rates, currency, oil, silver, diesel oil, sugar and gold.

Trading in Brent futures contract was launched in October 2008. According to the Futures Industry Association by results of the first 6 months of 2009, this contract was ranked 17th in the Top-20 of the leading energy contracts.