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Vladimir Tarantaev, CFA, PMP
Vladimir Tarantaev, a CFA expert in fixed income, has a strong track record in credit analysis at CIS banks and a diverse background in math-physics and astronomy.
Vladimir Tarantaev
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01.10.2025
Euronext Brings Retail Investors Closer to Sovereign Bond Markets
Euronext Brings Retail Investors Closer to Sovereign Bond Markets
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With new mini futures now available on French, German, Spanish, and Italian bonds, Euronext is lowering the threshold to enter the bond derivatives market. The instruments are cash-settled, smaller, and designed for broader access. For individuals, this could mean easier strategies for protecting portfolios or acting on rate views. Isn’t that the kind of flexibility you have been asking for?

Last week, Euronext launched a new set of mini futures on European government bonds – and while that may sound technical, it could actually open the door for smaller investors to take part in a market that has long been dominated by big institutions. These contracts cover well-known government bonds such as the French OAT, German Bund, Spanish Bono, and Italian BTP, with even a brand-new 30-year BTP contract. The infrastructure is supported by Euronext’s trading platform (Optiq) and clearing house, and dedicated market makers have committed to provide liquidity on the new contracts.

Unlike traditional bond futures, which are often very large and designed for big players, these “mini” contracts come in a notional size of €25,000. That makes them easier to handle for private investors who want to trade or hedge on a smaller scale. The contracts trade on the Euronext Derivatives Milan market and are cash-settled, meaning you never take a risk of delivery of an actual bond. Instead, at expiration, you just settle the difference in value.

So, why does this matter? For one, it gives investors a more flexible way to manage interest rate risk. If you hold European government bonds in your portfolio, you could use these futures to protect yourself against rising yields without selling your bonds. Or, if you believe yields are set to fall, you can take a long position in the futures to benefit from potential bond price gains. In other words, you can act on your interest rate views in a more direct and cost-efficient way.

Of course, please, remember that futures are leveraged instruments, which means that even a small change in yields can produce outsized gains or losses. While the smaller contract size helps limit risk, retail investors still need to be disciplined about position sizing to avoid margin calls.

Author
Vladimir Tarantaev, CFA, PMP
Vladimir Tarantaev, a CFA expert in fixed income, has a strong track record in credit analysis at CIS banks and a diverse background in math-physics and astronomy.
Vladimir Tarantaev
This article does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bondfish does not recommend using the data and information provided as the only basis for making any investment decision. You should not make any investment decisions without first conducting your own research and considering your own financial situation.
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