RIYADH: The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has launched a derivatives market to increase liquidity and bring its products and services in line with global peers. In a statement by ADX, trading in the single equity futures of blue chips including, Etisalat, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), International Holding Company (IHC), ADNOC Distribution and Aldar Properties commenced on Thursday, with more securities to be added later this year 2021 and in 2022, Abu Dhabi Media Office said. Index futures will be introduced in the first quarter of 2022, ahead of the expansion into a wider range of derivative products that use marketplace technology delivered by Nasdaq. Three market makers including ADQ’s Q Market Makers, BHM Capital, and Al Ramz Capital join the ADX Derivatives market to provide liquidity on the new platform, facilitating an efficient and orderly market. Dispensing short-term margin trading licenses to more brokerages will allow for increased participation in the market, the statement said. The launch of the derivatives market has been accompanied by the introduction of central counterparty clearing (CCP) to promote clearing efficiency, stability, and confidence in the market, it said.