Saudi Arabia Cuts Derivatives Fees and Adds Market-Making Rules to Boost Liquidity

Saudi Arabia’s exchange operator and clearing house have rolled out a package of changes to the country’s derivatives market, including lower trading and clearing fees, a one-year waiver on futures transaction and settlement charges, and new market-making rules designed to improve liquidity. The reforms apply to index futures and single-stock futures and are meant to make the market more attractive to both professional and retail investors, especially foreigners. The move comes as Saudi Arabia continues broader efforts to deepen its capital markets and draw in more outside money, and the stock exchange’s shares rose after the announcement.