Eurex shift

EUREX, the German-Swiss futures exchange, is preparing to allow London- based firms to become full members next year, according to its chief executive, Dr Jorg Franke. The move follows complaints from Eurex's 65 London-based members at a meeting with Dr Franke in London yesterday about their second-class status within the exchange.

Dr Franke also said yesterday he was confident of the outcome of a vote at the Chicago Board of Trade on 27 January to agree a global alliance between the Chicago and Frankfurt exchanges. The deal would further dent the ambitions of London's futures exchange, Liffe.