NSE to launch options on WTI crude oil, natural gas futures contracts

Stock and derivatives exchange NSE said on Friday that it will launch options on NYMEX WTI crude oil and natural gas futures contracts, having received approval from market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The bourse said that it plans to launch the options derivative contracts in October. 

Currently, the exchange offers trading in equity, currency, commodity, and interest rate derivatives (futures and options contracts) in the derivative segment, besides a host of products in the capital and debt segments. 

NSE said, in a statement on Friday, that the addition will further boost its product offering in the overall commodity segment. These contracts are designed to provide market participants, particularly corporates, value chain participants, and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) with a more efficient way to manage their commodity risk, it said. 

"This is a significant step towards our aim of providing the market participants with a suite of dynamic and robust financial products. We will announce the launch date of these contracts soon,” said Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE. 

“We would like to thank all the market participants for showing their trust and confidence in the NSE WTI crude oil and natural gas futures contracts, and we are confident that the same will continue with the Options on Futures contracts as well,” he said. 

The exchange said it witnessed a positive response from market participants in the rupee-denominated WTI crude oil and natural gas futures contracts, launched in its commodity derivatives segment in May. More than 100 trading members across regions have transacted in these contracts since the launch, NSE added.