Merchants' to have market-makers

Merchants' Exchange is signing up market makers to try and kick-start volume. Peregrine Financial Group was last week the first firm to say it will serve as a market-maker in three energy contracts.

The all-electronic Chicago-based exchange has struggled to gain market users since it was launched about a year ago. Volume has been virtually nonexistent. But with the help of Peregrine and at least three other firms offering to...