FIA Expo 2007 Preview
CONFERENCE SEASON IS UPON US
The derivatives industry certainly has no shortage of conferences, expos and trade shows. Despite this flood of of events, the true kickoff event for the year is undoubtedly the Futures Industry Association Expo in Boca Raton, Florida. Every year, the major exchanges, trading firms and vendors gather in the warm Florida sun to discuss the state of the industry.
However, escaping the frigid climes of NYC, Chicago and London for a few rounds of golf is not the sole purpose of the Expo. This event is where many derivatives firms and exchanges make their major announcements for the coming year. In a nutshell, if it's important and it involves derivatives, then you will hear about it in Boca. There is never a shortage of news, debate and controversy at the Expo. With the FIA/CME standoff in full swing, this year promises to be no exception.
FIA VS, CME ROUND TWO
For those of you who missed the latest episode of Options Insider Radio, the CMEís pending acquisition of the CBOT has created quite a rift within the derivatives industry. Standing firmly on one side are those who believe that uniting these two monopolies into one mega-exchange will stifle competition in the derivatives world. Glaring at them from the other side of this rift are those who believe the merger is a boon for the U.S. futures markets, especially when it comes to dealing with overseas competition.
In a somewhat surprising move, the FIA recently released a statement condemning the deal as anti-competitive. Since the CME and CBOT are prominent members of the FIA and also sponsors of the Expo, this friction should make for some interesting panels and meetings in the coming week.
SOMETHING FOR THE OPTIONS TRADERS
For most of its history, the FIA Expo was aimed squarely at the futures markets. However, in recent years the FIA has made an attempt to broaden their options offerings. The Expo is now attended by every major options exchange and most of the major industry firms. There are also several panels devoted to the vagaries of the options industry. While its options offerings are not as extensive as the upcoming OIC Conference, the Expo still has quite a bit to offer those interested in options trading & the options industry.
The Options Insider.com will provide our users with regular updates straight from the Expo floor. Stay tuned to The Options Insider.com all week for the latest news and developments from Boca.
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About Mark S. Longo
Mark S. Longo is the founder of The Options Insider Inc. - a firm dedicated to providing free options information, education, news and analysis for options users. Whether it's on TheOptionsInsider.com, a leading online options destination; through Options Insider Radio, the world's only radio network for options users; or through a growing number of newsletters and live events, Mr. Longo continues to provide new ways to spread the word about options.Mr. Longo's analysis of the options market has appeared in a wide variety of domestic and international publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters, Futures Magazine, and more. As one of the few industry commentators with practical options experience, he has developed a substantial following among industry veterans and newcomers looking for insight into this complex market.Mr. Longo began his career as an options trader on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
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