NASDAQ OMX to expand CO2 spot trading in Nordics

OSLO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The commodities trading arm of NASDAQ OMX Group (NDAQ.O) will launch a physical certified emission reduction (CER) spot contract on its Nord Pool carbon trading platform in the Nordics on Nov. 20.

The CER is the carbon offset instrument issued under the Kyoto Protocol by the United Nations' Clean Development Mechanism. It will be listed on Nord Pool alongside existing physical European Union emission allowance (EUA) contracts.

"The CER spot supplements our existing carbon offering and we now offer a full set of EUA and CER forward and spot contracts," Fredrik Voss, vice president of business development and carbon markets at NASDAQ OMX Commodities said on Wednesday.

Nord Pool, the biggest electricity exchange in the Nordic region spanning Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, will now trade CER and EUA spot contracts, EUA forward contracts for 2009-2014, CER forward contract 2009-2012 and the CER/EUA swaps and strips for 2009-2012.

The trading and clearing fee for EUA/CER spot and forward contracts are 0.003 euros per tonne and there are no additional delivery or physical settlement fees, NASDAQ OMX said. (Reporting by Wojciech Moskwa; Editing by Toby Chopra)