Focus Day: Funding & Futurization

15:00 – 15:05 Opening & Welcome
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti

The day starts with a quick overview of today’s topics and some insights into current market trends impacting repo, dividends and total return futures - what hides behind that future of finance?


15:05 - 15:20 Fireside Chat: Repo, TRFs, and beyond: a holistic view of market dynamics
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti
Speaker: Matthias Graulich, Chief Commercial Officer and Global Head of Products & Markets at Eurex

This fireside conversation will underscore how repo markets serve as a foundational layer for broader financial markets and are central to Eurex’s value proposition. Total Return Futures (TRFs), which reflect the implied repo rate, are increasingly shaping market dynamics and influencing the development of structured products and repo. Their continuous growth highlights the convergence between funding markets and equity derivatives, reinforcing the need for integrated, futurized solutions.

15:20 - 16:00 Panel: Repo markets in transition
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti

Speakers:

Michael Jahn, Director, Business Strategy Funding & Financing Products & Markets, Eurex
More speakers to be announced soon

What are the main market dynamics shaping the Repo market's future? Our panelists will discuss the impact of macro trends, the challenge of electronification of repo markets, and assess the buyside views.

• How has the repo market evolved over the last months?

• Electronification - how is the state of the repo market? Are there key opportunities to progress?

• Regulation - what impact of the US move to mandatory clearing from the perspective of European market participants?

• How to onboard the buyside?

16:00 – 17:00 Panel: Evolving landscape of Total Return Futures
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti

Speakers:
Stuart Heath, Director, Eurex
Natasha Sibley, Fund Manager, Janus Henderson Investors
More speakers to be announced

This panel explores the evolving landscape of Total Return Futures (TRFs), from their established role as long-term index-based instruments to their growing influence on repo markets and structured products. We'll delve into Eurex's comprehensive suite of TRF offerings, spanning Indices, Equities, and Baskets, examining their diverse applications and benefits. We'll analyze the recent behavior of TRFs in repo trading, discuss current trends in Total Return Swaps, and consider the specific advantages of Equity and Basket TRFs, such as targeted exposure and bespoke hedging strategies.

• How are TRFs reshaping dynamics within repo markets and impacting financing strategies?

• What unique advantages do Equity and Basket TRFs offer compared to traditional index-based TRFs?

• What is the future trajectory of TRF product development and market adoption, particularly regarding Equity and Basket TRFs?

  
  

17:00 – 17:10 Fireside chat: Decoding dividend derivatives: insights and market trends
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti
Speaker: Lorena Dishnica, Global Product Lead Dividend Derivatives, Eurex

In the third segment of our Focus Day, attention shifts to Dividend Derivatives, examining recent market behavior alongside Eurex’s comprehensive suite of Dividend Futures and Options. This session will also provide a broad overview of liquidity conditions, setting the stage for deeper insights during the upcoming panel discussion.

17:10 – 17:55 Panel: Dividend Options - unlocking new opportunities in equity finance
Moderator: Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti

Speakers:
Lorena Dishnica, Global Product Lead Dividend Derivatives, Eurex
Lorenzo Longo, Portfolio manager, Kedalion Capital
More speakers to be announced soon

This panel explores the latest developments and growing opportunities in dividend options for income investing. We'll analyze the surge in US dividend options activity, determining if it represents a migration from OTC to listed markets or broader ecosystem growth. The panel will also cover using dividend options to manage risk and enhance income strategies, as well as the global impact on market liquidity and product innovation.

• Does the growth in US dividend options trading signify a shift from OTC to listed markets, or broader participation in the dividend options ecosystem?

• How can investors use dividend options to mitigate risk and enhance returns within income-focused portfolios across various market conditions?

• What is the influence of global market participants on the evolution of dividend options, and how will this shape future product innovation and income strategies?

17:55 – 18:00 Closing
Will Mitting, Founder & Managing Director, Acuiti

All times are in CET.