OREANDA-NEWS. May 13, 2010. On May 7, 2010 trading volume in derivatives contracts during the main trading session on FORTS reached 4,257,519 contracts representing RUB194.815 billion or USD6.4 billion in terms of notional value.

The total number of trades executed on FORTS also hit a new record high of 807,487 trades.

The trading volume in futures contracts alone totaled 4,048,628 contracts for a record value of RUB182.684billion or USD6 billion. The overall number of trades in futures and options alone also refreshed the maximum marks – 791,713 and 15,774 trades respectively.

In addition, market participants executed a record number of trades (558,656) in the RTS Index futures representing 1,721,282 contracts for a record value of RUB142.285 billion or USD4.7 billion and 13,241 trades in the RTS Index options.

The top liquid FX contract of FORTS, the USD/RUB futures, showed a record trading volume as well – 496,807 contracts or RUB15.267 billion(USD504 million). It also established a new open interest record – 1,131,460 contracts or RUB35.047 billion (USD1.2 billion).

The Russian market has grown dramatically on the back of the high volatility and unrelieved stress on the international financial markets. Global practice recognises that futures and options are amongst the best tools for hedging an investment portfolio. The rich product choice offered by FORTS allows local investors to not only minimize their losses incurred as a result of sharp movements in global markets but also to build viable strategies in unstable financial and commodity markets.

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 47 contracts (34 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.