Report by Erik Norland, Senior Economist at CME Group This paper examines why bitcoin is so volatile; its supply and demand drivers, and how the cryptocurrency compares to commodities. What is most striking about the economics of bitcoin is the certainty of its supply and the vagaries of demand. The rate at which bitcoin is mined has been highly predictable and unlike almost any other asset – currencies or commodities – its ultimate supply is a known quantity, fixed well in advance. There will never be more than 21 million bitcoins. This feature makes supply almost perfectly inelastic. No matter…...
NIBA Advisory Group Meeting Report
The Advisory Group (AG) of the NIBA met Wednesday, November 29 at the Union League Club in Chicago. This group of industry experts meets once each year to evaluate NIBA’s programs and projects, and suggest ideas for making the Association more effective in our efforts to educate our members and represent their views on all issues which have an effect on our business lives. 2018 group members include: Rob DeMuria, Compliance Supervisors, Inc. Paul Georgy, Allendale, Inc. Mark Haraburda, Barchart Kelly Hartman, CME Group Dr. Carl Luft, DePaul University John Nelson, Applied Research John Roe, BTR Trading Mark Ruddy, Ruddy…...
NIBA Cryptocurrency Trading Panel
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency have become the hot topic in trading circles as the CME prepares to launch its Bitcoin futures contract. NIBA featured a cryptocurrency trading panel at its Chicago conference this past September. If you were not in attendance check out the video link below to hear thoughts and predictions on crypto trading and block chain from traders and experts – and yes the call in September was bitcoin is going higher. Featuring Brian Kelly of CNBCs Fast Money and CEO of BKCM a digital asset hedge fund, Chris Tanger – veteran crypto trader, Software Solutions Architect and Entrepreneur,…...
Relationship-Based Trading in Agricultural Products
Effective January 8 pending regulatory approval, CME Group will expand relationship-based trading, in the form of block trades and certain types of crosses on Globex, to the full suite of CME and CBOT agricultural products. With relationship-based trading, participants can enter into conversations with other market participants that include discussion of the price, size and direction of an order that may lead to one of two very distinct types of transactions: crossing on CME Globex and block trades. Learn More...
NIBA Board Elections
The Executive Board of the NIBA has made the following recommendations for election to the Board of Directors. Due to the restructuring of Introducing Broker membership qualification, no individual ballots will distribute this year. Instead this posting acts as notice to the membership of nomination of the candidates. If no other recommendations are received by Nov. 25, 2018, the candidates below are deemed elected. For an initial 3-year term (expiring 2020): Mark Shore, Chief Research Officer of Shore Capital Research LLC www.shorecapmgmt.com has more than 30 years of experience in the futures markets and alternative investments. He publishes research, consults…...
Trade the Top of Tech
ICE LAUNCHES NYSE FANG+ INDEX FUTURE ON NOVEMBER 8 The NYSE FANG+ Index™ offers exposure to a select group of highly-traded stocks of tech-enabled companies. Beginning on November 8, 2017, ICE Futures U.S. will launch a new futures contract designed to help you gain or reduce exposure to this key group of growth stocks in a capital efficient manner. The NYSE FANG+ index includes 10 actively traded stocks that represent some of the top innovators across today’s tech-oriented companies. The index’s underlying composition is equally weighted and reconstituted on a quarterly basis, providing a unique performance benchmark that allows for…...
Bitcoin Futures are Coming to CME
CME Group will launch Bitcoin futures, based on the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR), in Q4 2017, building off of the success of the BRR and demand for a regulated trading venue for the digital asset market. Subscribe to stay up-to-date on Bitcoin futures contract specifications and launch information. Keep Me informed...
Chairman’s Letter – November 2017
“Money, Money, Money” —– ABBA, recorded and released 1976 Okay –I admit it. I’ve been eagerly waiting for the right time to mention ABBA for any reason in the Chairman’s Letter. Their 1976 release of “Money, Money, Money” was the second big hit for this Swedish pop group, following on the heels of “Dancing Queen.” Is it a stretch from money, money, money to Bitcoin and other forms of digital currency? Maybe. In the past week we have seen that the major futures exchanges believe in the development of cryptocurrency trading.…...
CME Group Russell 2000
Register Today: The Russell 2000 Surge and Futures Trading Opportunities Webinar Small Cap, Big Opportunity With the likes of Alphabet, Apple and Amazon trading at lofty valuations, small-cap stocks, indices and futures are bringing back some edge to the market. Register for the CME Group upcoming webinar to learn how the Russell 2000® and E-mini Russell 2000 Index futures present trading opportunities for both institutional and individual traders. Register Today...
Chairman’s Letter – October 2017
Podcast: an episodic series of digial audio or video files which a user can download and listen to – Wikipedia, 2017 NIBA’s mission is to educate derivatives professionals so they can better serve their customers, stay in compliance and grow their businesses. One of the ways the mission is accomplished is through posting the video files of our member conferences on the NIBA website. You can sit back and relax at home to watch the sessions for the first time, or review them any time. Currently, you can access all the individual presentations through the member’s portal on the site…...