The ASX futures market is based upon the ASX 200 stock index, which is the primary stock index of the Australian Securities Exchange in Australia. The ASX 200 index is also known as the SPI 200 index, and the ASX futures market is also known as the SPI futures market. The ASX 200 stock index consists of two hundred companies, that are traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. The ASX 200 stock index is calculated in real time, and the ASX futures market is traded on the Sydney Futures Exchange (SNFE) electronic trading system from 9:50 AM to 4:30 PM Sydney Time, and from 5:10 PM to 8:00 AM (7:00 AM during US DST) Sydney Time.
Companies
As of October 2008, the ASX 200 stock index includes two hundred companies, which are available in detail in the ASX 200 constituent list.
Contract Specifications
The full contract specifications for the ASX futures market are as follows:
- Symbol: SPI (IB / Sierra Chart Format)
- Expiration date (as of October 2008): December 18 2008 (the third Thursday of every third month)
- Exchange: SNFE
- Currency: AUD
- Multiplier / Contract value: 25 AUD
- Tick size / Minimum price change: 1
- Tick value / Minimum price value: 25 AUD
Holidays
In 2008, the ASX futures market is open for trading every trading day (Monday to Friday), except for the following holidays:
- January 1
- January 28
- March 20 (modified trading times)
- March 21
- March 24
- April 25
- June 9
- December 24 (modified trading times)
- December 25
- December 26
- December 31 (modified trading times)
Exchange Web Site
The Australian Securities Exchange web site is available at http://www.asx.com.au/, and provides additional information about the exchange, its trading system, and the ASX 200 stock index and ASX futures market.
