NYSE and MSCI Agree to Launch New U.S. Options for Global Market Indexes

2026-01-15 economy

New York, Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Extending their futures partnership, this deal enables direct U.S. options trading for major global indexes like Emerging Markets on the NYSE, pending regulatory approval in early 2026.

Expanding the Derivatives Ecosystem

The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which operates the New York Stock Exchange, confirmed today, January 15, 2026, that it has reached an agreement with MSCI to list these options on the NYSE Arca and NYSE American exchanges [1][3]. This development marks a significant expansion of the existing partnership between the two entities, which currently focuses on futures contracts [3]. While the exact launch date remains subject to regulatory approval expected in early 2026, the move is poised to deepen the liquidity pool for global equity benchmarks [3][7]. By bridging the gap between futures and options, the NYSE aims to provide a more integrated derivative marketplace for institutional and retail traders alike.

Strategic Integration of Global Indices

The new options contracts will cover a comprehensive suite of MSCI’s most tracked indices. Specifically, investors can anticipate options tied to the MSCI Emerging Markets, MSCI EAFE, MSCI ACWI, MSCI World, and MSCI USA indexes [3]. This suite is designed to offer granular tools for managing exposure to international markets, complementing ICE’s existing MSCI futures complex, which currently records an average daily notional trading volume of approximately US$19.5 billion [3]. The announcement coincides with a broader surge in market activity; on Thursday, technology stocks led market gains, heavily influenced by strong results and increased capital spending plans from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) [1].

Valuation Perspectives and Market Outlook

As the financial infrastructure expands, market analysts are closely monitoring the valuations of the key players involved. As of early 2026, MSCI’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 36x, a premium compared to the US Capital Markets industry average of 25.7x [7]. This valuation follows recent bullish sentiment; on January 8, Wells Fargo & Company raised its price target for MSCI from $570.00 to $590.00 [6]. Conversely, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is trading at US$172.94, reflecting a 12.77% return over the past 90 days [3]. Analyst consensus regarding ICE’s future remains optimistic but varied, with price targets ranging from US$170.0 to US$227.0 based on expectations of earnings growth and profit margins [3].

Sources

Derivatives trading MSCI indexes