Trading volume of Mini-Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (Mini H-shares Index) futures, which were introduced today (Monday), was 1,204 April contracts.

"Today's rollout of Mini H-shares Index futures went well," said Calvin Tai, Head of HKEx's Derivatives Market Department. "We appreciate the support of the Exchange Participants who have been introducing Mini H-shares Index futures to their clients and the efforts of everyone who worked to make sure today's rollout was smooth.”

"We always take a long-term view on new products since they often take time to develop so we do not have any specific volume or open interest targets for the new product," Mr Tai added.

The value of one Mini-H-shares Index futures contract is one-fifth the value of an H-shares Index futures contract. The initial margin per Mini H-shares Index futures contract is $21,730.  The H-shares Index, a market capitalisation-weighted stock index compiled and calculated by Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited, tracks the performance of the shares of major Mainland-incorporated companies listed in Hong Kong.

Mini-H-shares Index futures have been designed to provide an effective trading and hedging tool for investors interested in tracking the H-shares market with a product that requires a smaller initial margin than the standard H-shares Index futures contract and to complement the trading of the standard H-shares Index futures and options contracts.