OREANDA-NEWS. April 07, 2010. The Derivatives Market Committee of RTS Stock Exchange decided to cut down the basic size of Initial Margin on the RTS Index futures and RTS Standard Index futures from 10% to 7.5%.

The Initial Margin reduction for these contracts will take place during the evening clearing session on April 6, 2010, i.e. from 6.45 pm to 7.00 pm MSK.

This decision is based on the macroeconomic environment: steadying global financial markets and less volatile local market. Reduction of the Initial Margin on Index-linked futures will result in lower funding costs for market participants and more efficient assets management.

FORTS, the derivatives market of RTS, is the leading trading venue for futures and options in Russia. Trading on FORTS started in September 2001. According to the Futures Industry Association the derivatives market of RTS is among the TOP-10 global derivatives exchanges based on the results of 2009. At present FORTS has the widest range of instruments in Russia. These are 46 contracts (33 futures and 13 options) on RTS Index, RTS Standard Index, shares of Russian companies, bonds, short term interest rates, currency, oil, gasoil, gold, silver, and sugar.