ICE to Launch OTC FX Clearing in 2Q - Analyst Blog
March 15 2012 - 8:45AM
Zacks
Yesterday, IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE)
announced the introduction of non-deliverable forward foreign
exchange (FX) over-the-counter (OTC) contracts to its clearing
services. An official launch is scheduled in the second quarter of
2012, subject to regulatory approvals.
Post the receipt of approval, the service will begin for both
client and clearing member trades, whereby ICE plans to clear
non-deliverable forward contracts for foreign exchange currencies
including Brazilian Real, Korean Won, Chinese Yuan, Indian Rupee,
Indonesian Rupiah, Chilean Peso and Russian Ruble at the outset.
All of these FX OTC contracts will be settled in the US
dollars.
ICE has also added BofA Merrill Lynch of Bank of America
Corp. (BAC), Citigroup Inc. (C),
Credit Suisse AG (CS), Deutsche Bank
AG (DB), JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM),
Morgan Stanley (MS) and UBS AG
(UBS), among others, to the list of its global FX market
participants, in order to initiate its FX OTC clearing.
Of late, the regulatory compliances by the Dodd Frank Act have
been prompting the exchanges to initiate clearing and other
technological services to its clients in order to reduce risk and
enhance transparency. As per the directives stated by the
regulatory authorities in the US, exchanges should start clearing
swaps by the fourth quarter of 2012. This further justifies ICE’s
step of refining its business model to include a broad array of FX
OTC contracts clearing.
Moreover, in an effort to support its market holding, ICE has
scheduled to launch cleared OTC FX contracts. The company is aware
of changing market needs, and attempts to evolve through its
hedging strategies, product modification and innovation, in turn
supporting volumes and the top-line growth in the long run.
The launch of clearing of contracts by ICE in the rapidly
expanding foreign exchange sphere further boosts the company’s
competitive leverage in the derivatives and OTC areas, where other
arch rivals such as CME Group Inc. (CME),
NYSE Euronext Inc. (NYX) and CBOE Holdings
Inc. (CBOE) are vigorously making their presence, thereby
providing a challenging operating environment.
ICE has been growing through product novelty and expansion in
the global emerging markets over the past several quarters. Strong
trading volumes in ICE's FX, crude oil and energy futures and OTC
markets, new product introduction along with increase in credit
default swap (CDS) clearing revenues also drove the top- and bottom
line during 2011. The strengthening of this portfolio is further
expected to drive growth in future.
Overall, we believe that based on the current volatile macro
environment, ICE has a strong revenue-generating product portfolio,
high earnings visibility, consistent cash generation, disciplined
investment and limited balance-sheet risk. These factors are
expected to drive strong earnings potential in the long run. Hence,
ICE carries a Zacks Rank #1, implying a short-term Strong Buy
rating, while the long-term stance remains Outperform.
BANK OF AMER CP (BAC): Free Stock Analysis Report
CITIGROUP INC (C): Free Stock Analysis Report
CBOE HOLDINGS (CBOE): Free Stock Analysis Report
CME GROUP INC (CME): Free Stock Analysis Report
CREDIT SUISSE (CS): Free Stock Analysis Report
DEUTSCHE BK AG (DB): Free Stock Analysis Report
INTERCONTINENTL (ICE): Free Stock Analysis Report
JPMORGAN CHASE (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report
NYSE EURONEXT (NYX): Free Stock Analysis Report
UBS AG (UBS): Free Stock Analysis Report
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