OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2010. Open interest volume on the EUR/RUB FX futures contract on FORTS hit RUB4,526,330,824 (USD148.4 million) or 108,504 contracts, a record since its launch.

"Over September the euro added more than 7.5% against the Russian ruble according to the official exchange rate. This futures contract was in especially high demand among hedgers, because it is the only instrument on the Russian market, that allows hedging investments and business against sharp fluctuations on currency markets" , explains Evgeny Serdyukov, Director of the Futures & Options Market at OJSC RTS.

FORTS currency section has the widest range of instruments in Russia. Currently there are 3 futures contracts on the USD/RUB, EUR/USD and EUR/RUB exchange rates as well as 2 options contracts on the USD/RUB, EUR/USD exchange rates. According to the Futures Industry Association RTS futures contract on the USD/RUB exchange rate has entered the TOP-10 of the most liquid instruments with currency as underlying asset in the world.

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,  shares of Russian companies,  short term interest rates, currency, oil,  gold, silver, and sugar.