SHFE to launch crude oil futures this year

Shanghai (CNS) -- The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) plans to launch the country's first crude oil futures within the year, said the company's chairperson Wang Lihua at the 9th Shanghai Derivatives Market Forum on Monday.

With this launch, the SHFE aims to gradually become the pricing benchmark in the Asia Pacific region and a global market for crude futures, as well as make China's futures market attractive to overseas investors, producers, traders and consumers, Wang added.