Trading of Currency Futures – RBI instructions
Persons resident in India have a menu of over-the-counter (OTC) products, such as currency forwards, swaps and options for hedging their currency risk. In the context of liberalisation of the capital accounts, as also continued development of the financial markets, wider hedging opportunities could enhance the flexibility for the residents to manage their currency risk dynamically. International experiences have also established that the exchange traded currency futures contracts facilitate efficient price discovery, enable better counterparty credit risk management, wider participation, trading of standardized product, reduce transaction costs, etc.
As a part of further developing the derivatives market in India and adding to the existing menu of foreign exchange hedging tools available to the residents, it has been decided to introduce currency futures in recognized stock exchanges or new exchanges recognized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the country. The currency futures market would function subject to the directions, guidelines, instructions issued by the Reserve Bank and the SEBI, from time to time.
Persons resident in India are permitted to participate in the currency futures market in India subject to directions contained in the Currency Futures (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2008 [Notification No. FED.1/DG(SG)-2008 dated August 6, 2008]
Necessary amendments to Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Exchange Derivatives Contracts) Regulations, 2000 (Notification No. FEMA.25/RB-2000 dated May 3, 2000) (Regulations) have been notified in the Official Gazette vide G.S.R. No 577(E) dated August 5, 2008.
RBI Circular No. 05/RBI., Dated: August 6, 2008