The head of London Stock Exchange Group PLC said Tuesday that the exchange plans to establish a derivatives platform within nine months, highlighting a shift towards trading multiple asset classes.
"Exchanges, we believe, must build derivative capabilities in collaboration with customers," Chief Executive Xavier Rolet told participants in the FIA/FOA International Derivatives Expo.
"We would like to address the lack of retail derivatives activity in Europe. This is clearly an underdeveloped service area and product area in the European context," Rolet said.
On Rolet's watch, the LSE is seeking greater exposure to derivatives and the business of clearing trades as its core stock business has come under pressure from smaller electronic rivals in recent years.
Rolet declined to give details of the plan, saying only that more information will be announced during the next nine months.
Efforts to unseat derivatives-market incumbents have been unsuccessful in the U.S., where sector heavyweight CME Group Inc. has faced down several challengers to its fixed-income futures business.
