Published on: 2026-09-21
Source: Moscow Exchange –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
25 years ago, on September 19, 2001, trading began on the derivatives market of the Moscow Exchange. Market participants made their first deals with four futures contracts on the stock prices of RAO “UES of Russia”, “Gazprom”, NK “Lukoil” and “Surgutneftegaz”, as well as two options on futures contracts on the stocks of RAO “UES of Russia” and “Gazprom”.
Today, the Moscow Exchange derivatives market is one of the largest platforms in the world for trading derivative financial instruments. More than 200 futures contracts on stock indices, Russian and foreign securities, currency pairs, precious and industrial metals, oil, gas, and other commodities, interest rates are admitted to trading. Market participants also have access to over 90 options, including 41 premium options on stocks, currencies, gold, and an index.
In the first months of operation, the average daily trading volume was measured in hundreds of millions of rubles and has increased several thousand times over 25 years: in the first eight months of 2026, the average daily transaction volume exceeded 750 billion rubles (+35% compared to 2025), and in September 2026 it approached one trillion rubles. The most in-demand instruments at the moment include futures on currency pairs and the Moscow Exchange Index, as well as contracts for oil, gold, and natural gas.
More than 100 banks and brokers participate in the Moscow Exchange derivatives market, through which over 200 thousand clients, mostly individuals, conclude transactions monthly. The infrastructure of the Moscow Exchange derivatives market is based on a proprietary trading and clearing platform capable of processing over 150,000 transactions per second. The reliability of settlements is guaranteed by a central counterparty, the functions of which are performed by the National Clearing Center.
Maria Patrikeeva, managing director of the derivatives market at the Moscow Exchange:
“Over 25 years, the derivatives market has evolved from a few contracts to more than 200 instruments, with daily trading volume increasing thousands of times to 750 billion rubles. Thousands of clients choose our instruments daily to manage risks and implement investment strategies. It is for them that we annually launch dozens of new instruments, develop new segments, including those based on digital currencies and perpetual futures. To enhance convenience for clients across Russia, we are extending trading hours – today, futures and options transactions on the Moscow Exchange are available for 17 hours on working days and 9 hours on weekends. We will continue to expand our product range, improve the technological platform, and make the derivatives market even more accessible and understandable for all categories of investors.”
Moscow Exchange is the largest Russian exchange and the only multifunctional platform in Russia for trading stocks, bonds, derivatives, currency, money market instruments, and commodities. The Moscow Exchange Group includes a central depository as well as a clearing center that acts as a central counterparty in the markets, allowing Moscow Exchange to provide clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.