Hong Kong Exchange to expand derivatives warrant data

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (KKEx) is introducing a new derivatives warrants information website in mid-2006.

The site will provide information about derivatives warrants and related educational materials in both English and Chinese. Content will also include details about vendors that provide derivatives warrants support and historical information.

As part of the changes, issuers will be required to submit their daily trading summary for posting on the HKEx website in an Excel-like format instead of text format. Exchange officials said the site includes an improved interface but could not provide more details.

The first derivatives warrant debuted on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 1989. Turnover in HKEx's derivatives warrants market averaged $3.5 billion per day in 2005, 19% of average daily securities market turnover.

In a statement, the exchange said derivatives warrants have proven to be a very popular product among a broad cross-section of investors. However, the exchange does not have information about the investors who trade in derivatives warrants.