SFE Corporation Limited

SFE Corporation Limited provides exchange-traded and over-the-counter financial services to institutions throughout the Asia-Pacific region and globally through its operating subsidiaries Sydney Futures Exchange Limited, SFE Clearing Corporation Pty Ltd and Austraclear Limited. On 25 July 2006 SFE Corporation Limited merged with the Australian Stock Exchange Limited, making the combined entity the ninth largest listed exchange in the world which offers an integrated suite of products and services covering cash and derivatives markets.

SFE Overview

It is more than 45 years since the Sydney Futures Exchange began life as the Sydney Greasy Wool Futures Exchange in 1960. Since then SFE has continued to innovate, diversify and grow with the name change to SFE in 1972 reflecting the broader commodity base, including live cattle, gold and beef futures.

In 1979, SFE launched the first financial futures market outside the US, the 90-Day Bank Accepted Bill Futures market and since then the SFE product range has diversified into both commodities and financial futures.

In November 1989, SFE became the first exchange to extend its normal trading floor with a screen dealing system, SYCOMŽ and in November 1999, the trading floor was closed completely and the SFE became a fully electronic exchange.

Austraclear was conceived in the early 1980’s as a response to the growing inability of paper based clearing and settlement systems to handle the growing volumes of financial market transactions. The company was formed to develop and operate a central securities depository for Australian markets. In September 2004, Austraclear launched a live electronic settlement system and on 14 September 2000 Austraclear became an SFE group company.

 SFE Regulation

Operating Subsidiaries

SFE Market – Vital Statistics

Sydney Futures Exchange is one of the largest financial futures and options exchanges in the world. In 2006 almost 80 million contracts were traded and SFE hubs in US, Europe and Asia saw a huge increase in offshore volumes.

SFE Benchmark Contracts  Jun’07 Volumes
90 Day Australian Bank Accepted Bill Future  2,035,011
3 Year Australian Treasury Bond Future 3,878,631 
10 Year Australian Treasury Bond Future  2,458,737
SFE SPI 200TM Index Future  1,198,770

SFE Austraclear’s Clearing and Settlement facility (now known as ASX Austraclear) has almost 700 participants, holds more than A$745 billion of securities and settled A$2.78 trillion in 2006.