Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) announced on Jan 7 that its Futures and Options market saw another record year in 2007. Its derivatives volume exceeded 44 million contracts, surpassing its previous annual record volume in 2006 by 21 percent.

SGX said in a statement that the strong increase in overall volumes was fueled by soaring growth in some of its key contracts including the Nikkei 225, MSCI Taiwan and the MSCI Singapore Index Futures contracts, which also hit new record highs this year.

In particular, SGX saw its MSCI Singapore Index Futures (SiMSCI) volume grow by more than 80 percent year-on-year.

"It is envisaged that with the recent launch of the new Minimum Bids Schedule for the Singapore cash market, volume in SiMSCI is set to grow further as SGX plans to target new segments of the market," said SGX.