Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), HKEx Group companies the London Metal Exchange (LME) and LME Clear Limited, and China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 11 September 2014 for strategic cooperation in the development of new products, joint publicity and marketing and other areas.
The signing ceremony was held in London in the presence of CCB Chairman and Executive Director Wang Hongzhang, HKEx Chief Executive Charles Li, LME Chairman Sir Brian Bender and LME Clear Chief Executive Trevor Spanner. Other senior representatives from LME, LME Clear and CCB also attended the ceremony.
"This agreement marks the beginning of our collaboration with CCB in the exploration of new products and services suitable for Mainland China, Hong Kong and other markets," said Mr Li. "The MOU is another demonstration of our determination to expand the LME’s business in Asia."
"This MOU is an important step for the LME and CCB as we seek to combine our strengths to develop new products and services to complement our existing businesses," said Sir Brian.
"The collaboration shows our commitment to expanding the user base of the LME and LME Clear by exploring RMB related opportunities," added Mr Spanner.
"China, as both the major global producer and consumer of base metals, now plays a critical role in the pricing of base metals internationally. As one of China's most influential multinational finance companies, CCB aims to strengthen its cooperation with HKEx, LME and LME Clear, leveraging on our complementary strengths to establish a financial fast track channel for China's broad swathe of mining, smelting and metal processing companies to access international commodities trading markets," said Mr Wang.
"The signing of this strategic MOU builds on CCB's recent designation as the official Renminbi (RMB) clearing bank for the UK. All parties to this MOU view it as a great opportunity to enhance R&D and marketing activities promoting the expanded use of the RMB for base metal trading, which in turn will boost the ongoing internationalisation of the RMB," added Mr Wang.
HKEx, LME, LME Clear and China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB) signed an MOU for strategic cooperation in the development of new products, joint publicity and marketing and other areas in London. The MOU was signed by LME Chief Operating Officer and HKEx Management Committee Member Stuart Sloan (seated, second from left), General Manager of CCB Financial Market Department Gu Yu (seated, second from right), LME Company Secretary Marcos Castro (seated, left) and LME Clear Chief Executive Trevor Spanner (seated, right). The signing was witnessed by HKEx Chief Executive Charles Li (standing, centre), CCB Chairman and Executive Director Wang Hongzhang (standing, right) and LME Chairman Sir Brian Bender (standing left).
About HKEx
HKEx is one of the world's largest exchange operators by market capitalisation. It runs Hong Kong's securities and derivatives markets, is the frontline regulator of companies listed in Hong Kong, and provides clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded and over-the-counter products through its clearing houses. It is also an equal joint-venture partner with the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China Exchanges Services Company, which develops cross-border indices based on products traded on the three markets.
About the London Metal Exchange
The London Metal Exchange, a member of HKEx Group, is the world centre for industrial metals trading.
More than 80 per cent of global non-ferrous metals business is conducted on the exchange's three trading platforms: LMEselect (electronic), the Ring (open outcry) and the 24-hour telephone market. The world’s metal community uses the LME to trade futures, options, and the exchange’s latest contract, LMEswaps, to hedge against adverse price movements –prices which are discovered on LME’s markets and used as the global benchmark.
Participants can trade aluminium, copper, tin, nickel, zinc, lead, molybdenum, cobalt, steel billet and two regional aluminium alloy contracts. In 2013, 171.1 million lots were traded on the LME, the equivalent of 4.0 billion tonnes and US$14.6 trillion in notional value.
At the close of the year, 7.4 million tonnes of material was held on LME warrant in 732 storage facilities across 37 locations internationally.
For further information, please visit www.hkexgroup.com.
Ends