Euroclear Bank and the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) have formed an agreement whereby DIFX members will be able to settle cross-border DIFX securities transactions with Euroclear Bank clients.
This agreement signifies the first Euroclear Bank relationship with an exchange and central securities depository in the Middle East.
In early 2007, Euroclear Bank will work with Deutsche Bank, its selected agent in Dubai, to provide access to the DIFX’s central securities depository. All Euroclear-eligible trades on DIFX will be settled in US dollars; settlement of transactions between Euroclear Bank clients can take place in any of the 36 settlement currencies currently offered by Euroclear Bank.
“Euroclear Bank is delighted to be the first foreign central securities depository to provide access to the entire DIFX market infrastructure,” says Martine Dinne, the Chief Executive Officer of Euroclear Bank. “In a region where international participation is likely to grow, we aim to ease the operational path for foreign investors seeking to invest in the Gulf Cooperation Council states and other markets in the region. In parallel, we look forward to reinforcing our commitment to clients in the Middle East by providing international investor access to the DIFX.”
“Investors who want to buy or sell shares listed on the DIFX can now choose to settle the trades efficiently through Euroclear Bank,” adds Per E. Larsson, the Chief Executive of the DIFX. “This agreement is based on growing demand from investors internationally and locally to trade DIFX shares.”
“Deutsche Bank is leading the effort to establish the DIFX as a central trading environment for the Middle East,” added Roger Harrold, the Head of Domestic Custody Services at Deutsche Bank. “We are pleased that together with Euroclear we are now creating seamless settlement capabilities for institutional clients trading in securities listed on the DIFX.”