Tadashi Ezaki
President & CEO
Waves of democratization rocked the oil producing countries and the unprecedented forces of nature raged in various places around the world. These incidents caused increased volatility in the prices of energy and other natural resources, and as the uncertainty grows, exchange trade is gaining enhanced recognition as a social utility.
To meet such social requirements and fulfill its functions, TOCOM has implemented a number of market reforms, one of which is the extension of trading hours so as to cover most of the U.S. business hours. Our markets, except for rubber, are now open until 4:00am JST.
As a result of our efforts focusing on improving market capabilities by adopting trading rules in line with global standards, as well as other measures, I am confident that the TOCOM market now has in place the kind of environment necessary to attract new market participants. In this fiscal year started in April, we have set forth the following three principal strategies to engage a diverse set of new trading participants, including those from abroad, and to put trading volume on a firm growth trend.
1. Attracting new market intermediaries
- Promote participation in the TOCOM markets of Broker Members and General Clearing Participants through increased sales efforts that target leading domestic and overseas financial institutions whose customer bases include overseas and professional investors
- Increase market participation by retail investors through increased sales efforts that target internet-based securities and Forex brokers
2. Cooperating with existing Members
- Promote educational programs for retail investors and potential commercial interests by co-hosting seminars with Broker Members and offering webinars.
- Support marketing efforts of Broker Members by improving the Exchange website.
- Work to incorporate the needs of Members by more closely sharing information
3. Developing new investment products for retail investors
- Consider listing new types of investment products based on gold futures, the Exchange’s main contract, tailored to the needs of retail investors.
In order to accomplish our goal to establish ourselves as Asia’s most prominent derivatives market, we will pursue firm recovery of growth trend and bring our operations into profitability through the above-mentioned efforts.
I highly appreciate your continued support and collaboration.
Full details of the Fiscal 2011Business Plan can be found here.
Yours sincerely,
Tadashi Ezaki
President & CEO
Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Inc.