In recent years, commodity derivatives markets have developed rapidly in terms of volume and liquidity with new players entering the market and new products being devised. In particular, the entrance of institutional investors through commodity- linked products has radically changed the shape of these markets, posing new challenges for regulators and the public alike. Moreover, commodity derivatives have been in the spotlight for the past few months because of rising inflation and burgeoning commodity prices. These developments have focused attention on the link between derivative contracts and commodity spot trading.

Against this background, the European Capital Markets Institute (ECMI) organised a lunchtime meeting on commodity derivatives on September 17, 2008 between 12:30 and 13:45. The event was meant as a starting point for discussions about the development of commodity derivatives markets and the role regulators should play. The keynote speaker for this session was the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Director of International Affairs Jacqueline Mesa. Please download the programme below for further information.

ECMI has also published a commentary on this issue that can be found here: Commodity Derivatives Markets: Regulators' Leap in the Dark?