Euronext Amsterdam is expecting to complete its migration to screen-based trading of futures and options contracts in early December, three months ahead of schedule.
The exchange, which started the gradual transfer from floor trading to screen trading in November 2001, says the process has now been completed for 70% of all options and futures. The last phase will be the migration of trading in options on the AEX index to screen trading with effect from 9 December 2002.
The exchange says that changeover to screen trading has resulted in a substantial increase in turnover, more liquid contracts and lower spreads for investors.
As an additional sweetener, Euronext has introduced a series of fee reductions in the course of the migration project.