Mutual Offset System (MOS)

The Mutual Offset System (MOS) is an innovative partner program between CME Group and Singapore Exchange (SGX) that enables traders to open a futures position on one exchange and liquidate it on the other since 1984. It provides investors an efficient platform to manage overnight risk in a single market place, and gives greater access to the combined liquidity of both CME and SGX markets.

MOS is the first international futures clearing link of its kind. It now offers the below contracts:

• Yen- and Dollar-Denominated Nikkei 225 futures
• E-mini FTSE China H50
• E-mini FTSE Emerging Index

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To do an inter-exchange transfer, the customer must first designate a trade as a MOS trade before it is executed. The customer then chooses whether CME or SGX will carry the position. Trades can be given up from one exchange and accepted on the other within 5 business days, including original trade date.

For example, a customer could initiate a MOS trade with a Nikkei225 contract at CME in the morning. Then, send it over to SGX through MOS in the afternoon, Chicago time. As soon as SGX accepts the trade, the CME position is automatically offset. Once a trade clears the inter-exchange match, the position is liquidated on the originating firm's books. It becomes a new position on the accepting firm's books. The customer pays margin (performance bond) to the exchange that received the trade.

Additionally, with the Mutual Offset System:

• The transaction fees of MOS trades are charged at the Executing Exchange only.
• All positions are transferred at the original trade price.
• The inter-exchange transfer is provided at no cost.

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MOS customers can benefit from spread margining. The program allows for lower performance bonds for offsetting positions in different products. For example, the risk of a short position in one product group can be somewhat offset by a long position in another product group. The potential cost advantages of this feature can be considerable.

The CME-SGX Mutual Offset System reduces the costs of trading on foreign markets. It also provides efficient risk management on a global basis. Additionally, MOS offers:

• The combined liquidity of both CME and SGX markets.
• Complete fungibility of MOS contracts.
• Trading opportunities through all international time zones.
• An easy, flexible, cost-efficient and time-tested linkage process.

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The interexchange transfer of trades takes place at the original trade price. Positions are marked against the daily settlement prices of the exchange where those positions are held.

Final Settlement Prices

• For Nikkei 225 futures, the expiring contracts settle to a special opening quotation (SOQ) of the Nikkei 225 Stock Average at the Osaka Securities Exchange (OSE). This value is usually based on the opening of the second Friday of the contract month.
• For FTSE China H50 futures, the expiring contract settles to the official closing value of the FTSE China 50 Index on the Last Trading Day.
• For FTSE Emerging Index futures, the expiring contract settles to the official closing value of the FTSE Emerging Index on the Last Trading Day.

MOS Eligibility

• All MOS-eligible contracts are cash-settled.
• MOS prohibits Exchange for Related Position (“EFRP”) transactions.
• Block Trades are not eligible for MOS.
• Basis at Index Close (BTIC) trades are prohibited from MOS.
• Only trade executions are eligible for MOS. Traders cannot re-submit positions through MOS for a second inter-exchange transfer (exception the case of an error).

MOS users need not be concerned about two different sets of rules for CME and SGX. Both exchanges operate under similar rules, philosophies, systems and trading facilities. As such, market participants may actually regard the two exchanges as providing a single marketplace for MOS contracts.