News in brief: TSE launches market making scheme for options; Volumes up at SGX, BATS, KCBT

Tokyo Stock Exchange launches options market maker scheme The Tokyo Stock Exchange has launched a market maker scheme for its options segment. Market makers will be expected to place bids and offers continuously, in return for fee waivers and discounts if they perform the role successfully. The bourse hopes institutional and retail investors will be able to trade more smoothly as a result.At the moment, the TSE’s equities division – which lists around 150 options on blue chip Japanese stocks such as Nikon, Mitsubishi and Toyota – averages around 50,000 options trades a month. Options on 10 year government bonds are TSE’s most liquid options contract. Last month, 148,605 changed hands. Volumes on TSE's Topix index options have sagged recently, while its Nikkei 225 options do not trade. Liquidity is pooling at rivals the Osaka Securities Exchange and Singapore Exchange (see below).SGX: options trading up 673%Singapore Exchange has reported growth in...